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The collapse happened on Wednesday at the Rubaya mine, which produces about 15% of the world’s coltan supply.
The mineral is used to produce tantalum, a heat-resistant metal used in mobile phones, computers, aerospace components, and gas turbines.
The death toll was still being verified as of Friday evening.
Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of the province where the mine is located, said the victims included miners, children, and women working in nearby markets.
“More than 200 people were victims of this landslide,” Muyisa told Reuters. “Some people were rescued just in time and have serious injuries.”
Muyisa said about 20 injured people were receiving treatment at local health facilities. He said the collapse was linked to heavy rains.
“We are in the rainy season. The ground is fragile,” he said. “It was the ground that gave way while the victims were in the hole.”
An adviser to the provincial governor said at least 227 deaths had been confirmed.
He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.
The Rubaya mine has been under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel group since 2024. Locals dig for minerals there by hand, often earning just a few dollars a day.
The United Nations has accused AFC/M23 of using Rubaya’s mineral wealth to help fund its insurgency. The rebels are alleged to be backed by neighbouring Rwanda, an accusation the Rwandan government denies.
