Second Deadly Landslide in Five Weeks Kills at Least 56 Children in Conflict-Affected Eastern DRC
At least 56 children killed in artisanal coltan mine in North Kivu, five weeks after more than 400 people died in the same area on 28 January.
Coltan is the ore from which tantalum is extracted — a key source mineral in mobile phones and other electronics worldwide. Rubaya produces about 15% of the global coltan supply.(1)
Minerals fund ongoing conflict and armed groups in Eastern DRC.(2)
Goma, March 4, 2026 – World Vision is once again deeply saddened by another deadly landslide that occurred on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in the artisanal coltan mine of Kasasa, in the Masisi territory of North Kivu. As the search continues, more than 200 people are believed to have lost their lives, — including at least 56 children — barely a month after a similar tragedy claimed the lives of more than 400 people in the same area on January 28.
According to eyewitness accounts, the tragedy occurred in the afternoon at a site that had been classified as dangerous, swampy, and unstable. The potential victims include not only miners, but also many small traders, including women and children.
“It is with immense sadness that we receive the news of this second disaster in just a few weeks. Seeing lives lost, including those of children, in the same place, in almost identical conditions, is an unbearable tragedy and further proof that protection mechanisms are not being observed,” said Philippe Guiton, Acting Country Director of World Vision in the DRC.
The artisanal mines of North Kivu, including those in Rubaya, rich in coltan, are notorious for their extremely dangerous working conditions. The lack of safety standards, the weakening of the ground due to incessant excavation, and chronic instability create deadly conditions for the thousands of people who have no choice but to work there to support themselves.
“Every day, children and their families are forced to risk their lives in these mines because they have no other options. The international community and the authorities must take urgent action to break this cycle of poverty and death that is turning the riches beneath the ground into open-air graves,” explains David Munkley, Director of World Vision DRC's Eastern Zone.
This latest accident highlights the collective failure to protect the most vulnerable populations. Less than a week after the first collapse, the miners, with no economic alternative, had already returned to work at the site. Children, often used for support tasks or small-scale trading, are the first to be exposed to these risks.
"Beyond the immediate human toll that we fear, entire families are being torn apart and children are being left orphaned, exposing them to an increased risk of exploitation and trauma. The urgency is twofold: immediate relief must be provided to affected families, but we must also address the root causes of this recurring tragedy: conflict, poverty, and lack of regulation that force children to work in inhumane conditions," adds David Munkley.
World Vision reiterates its urgent call to all stakeholders to:
• Ensure immediate and unhindered humanitarian access to affected areas to enable search and rescue operations and assistance to families.
• Ensure the protection of children affected by this tragedy, including emergency psychosocial support and the prevention of family separation.
• Implement sustainable economic alternatives for communities so that they are no longer forced to work in dangerous mining sites.
• Strengthen regulation of the artisanal mining sector and enforce the ban on mining in high-risk areas, in accordance with international standards and national laws protecting children.
World Vision has been present in eastern DRC since 1984 and continues to provide vital assistance to children and families displaced by conflict and poverty. Through programs such as Emergency Response to WASH, Protection, and Livelihoods Needs of IDPs and Host Communities in North Kivu Province, DRC (Walip-Pro) funded by the U.S. Department of State, the organization works to offer women and children a path back to dignity and safety.
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For further information, please contact:
Patrick Abega, Communications Manager, World Vision DRC, Patrick_Abega@wvi.org
About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please follow on X @World Vision DRC
Notes to Editors
(1) There is an estimated 4mg of tantalum in every mobile phone.
(2) Armed groups reportedly charge reported 15% tax on sales of all mined coltan in the area,4 adding up to an estimated $300,0005 a month.