At least 82 people have been killed after an informal gold mine collapsed in Sudan’s West Kordofan region, while dozens of others remain missing and feared trapped beneath the rubble, according to local officials and activists.
The collapse occurred at the Al-Zara gold mine near Nuhud, an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting Sudan’s military since the country’s civil war erupted in 2023.
Local rescuers have struggled to reach miners trapped underground because of a severe lack of heavy equipment. Survivors said miners and residents have been using basic hand tools to dig through collapsed soil and rocks in search of survivors and bodies. Only one privately owned forklift was reportedly available to assist the rescue operation.
One survivor described the collapse as massive and said miners were trapped at depths of more than 30 metres (about 100 feet). He said heavy machinery was urgently needed to remove the debris and reach people who may still be alive.
The number of casualties has varied as rescue teams continue recovering bodies. The Sudan Doctors Network initially reported that 67 bodies had been recovered, while local officials and activists later put the death toll at 82. Other monitoring groups reported different figures, reflecting the difficulty of assessing the disaster in the remote area.
The tragedy has highlighted the dangers of Sudan’s informal gold-mining industry, where thousands of workers operate in small-scale mines with limited safety standards and equipment. Similar mine collapses have killed dozens of workers in previous years.
Sudan is a major gold producer, and the mineral remains an important part of the country’s economy. However, much of the sector operates informally, with safety regulations difficult to enforce, particularly in areas affected by the ongoing conflict.
The disaster comes as Sudan continues to face a devastating humanitarian crisis caused by the war between the military and the RSF. Millions of people have been displaced, while food insecurity and limited access to humanitarian assistance remain major concerns.
Rescue efforts at Al-Zara are continuing as authorities and local residents search for the missing. The death toll could rise further if additional victims are recovered from the collapsed mine.
Swifteradio.com
