There are disputed reports of another massive landslide at the infamous mining site, with over 200 deaths being described by eye-witnesses. There are reports this morning that another devastating landslide has occurred at the Rubaya coltran mining site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is an area controlled by a rebel group, M23, […]
Africa
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The 28 January 2026 landslide at the Rubaya coltan mine complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Landslide Blog is written by Dave Petley, who is widely recognized as a world leader in the study and management of landslides. Whilst I was skiing in the French Alps last week, there were a couple of significant landslides. The highest profile event was the vast and intriguing landslide at Niscemi in Sicily (located […]
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
Planet Labs image of the 13 January 2026 landslide at Burutsi village, in the Democratic Republic of Congo
A new satellite image confirms that over 15 houses were buried in a landslide that took the lives of almost 30 people. Back on 15 January, I wrote about the 3 January 2026 landslide at Burutsi village, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This landslide killed 28 people and injured 20 more. This is a […]
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The 13 January 2026 landslide at Burutsi village, in the Kashebere area of Walikale Territory, Democratic Republic of Congo
A rainfall-induced landslide at Burutsi is now known to have killed 28 people. At about 1 am local time on 13 January 2026, a large landslide occurred at Burutsi village, which is located in the Kashebere area of Walikale Territory, Democratic Republic of Congo. Local news reports indicate that 28 people were killed in the […]
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Temperatures Are Rising, but What About Humidity?
Humid heat extremes are less frequently studied, but no less important, than those of dry heat.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Warming May Make Tropical Cyclone “Seeds” Riskier for Africa
Intensified hurricane precursors may linger longer over the continent, worsening extreme flooding hazards.
Posted inNews
When a Prayer Is Also a Climate Signal
New research in North Africa is validating calls for communal rain prayers as a means of tracking droughts in the region.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The 31 October 2025 fatal landslides in Chesongoch, Kenya
It is reported that 51 people have been killed by a series of debris flows in Kenya, triggered by heavy rainfall. On 31 October 2025, heavy rainfall triggered a series of large landslides in the vicinity of Chesongoch in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. To date, 26 people are known to have been killed and it […]
Posted inFeatures
Building Better Weather Networks
A lack of weather data often leaves African communities vulnerable. Convergent efforts to improve observational networks throughout the continent are slowly filling the gaps.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The strange case of the 31 August 2025 landslides in Sudan
Local reports suggested that over 1,500 people died in this event, and a high death toll was reported by some international agencies. However, examination of satellite imagery casts significant doubt on this interpretation. It has been widely reported that on 31 August 2025, a devastating landslide occurred at Tarasin (there are various spellings of this […]