KINSHASA (DPA)

More than 200 people have been killed in a rain-induced landslide at a minerals mine in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a provincial authority spokesman said on Saturday.

Since the collapse of the mine on Wednesday, 227 bodies and more than 30 injured people had been recovered, he said.

The coltan mine, a key ingredient used in high-tech products, is located in the eastern Congolese province of North Kivu. The victims include miners, female market traders, and children, he added.

The landslide struck the Rubaya coltan mine, which is estimated to account for about 15% of global coltan production. The metallic ore is used to produce chips for mobile phones and laptops, as well as batteries for electric cars.