Strong cold wave hits parts of China

A strong cold wave has swept through a large part of northern and eastern China since Friday, causing a sharp drop in temperatures in the affected areas. From Thursday evening, the eastern province of Shandong has experienced widespread rainfall, with some areas being hit by downpours.

In Qingdao City, heavy rains caused street water-logging and raised river levels in some areas.

In addition, the sudden temperature decline in Dezhou City has forced local residents to put on heavy coats and gloves.

"It felt colder after the rain yesterday. When I rode my electric scooter out this morning, I had to wear my down jacket and long johns because it was so cold," said a Dezhou resident surnamed Yang.

Meanwhile, north China's Hebei Province is also impacted by the cold air and has seen widespread rainfall and a sudden drop in temperatures. The province issued a yellow alert for cold wave on Saturday, with the lowest temperatures expected to drop by 10 to 12 degrees Celsius in most areas over this weekend.

"It rained all night, and it is so cold today. I put on thick clothes when I went out," said Shao Jianchao, a resident in Hebei's Handan City.

Strong cold wave hits parts of China

At least 200 miners were killed after several mine shafts collapsed at coltan sites in Rubaya of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, a spokesperson for the March 23 Movement rebel group confirmed on Friday.

Most of the victims were artisanal miners who were buried, the spokesperson said, adding that children and women were also among the dead.

The collapses occurred on Wednesday and Thursday at different coltan mines in Rubaya, an area controlled by the rebels since April 2024.

Coltan, or columbite-tantalite, is the main source of tantalum, a rare metal used in the production of advanced electronic devices. The United Nations estimated that the Rubaya mines alone account for about 15 percent of the global tantalum supply.

At least 200 killed in mine collapse in eastern DR Congo