Sudan Gold Mine Collapse Kills 82 as Dozens Remain Missing Underground
A Sudan gold mine collapse has killed at least 82 people in West Kordofan, according to a local official, as rescuers continue searching for an unknown number of miners trapped beneath collapsed shafts with only limited heavy equipment available.
The disaster struck the Al-Zara gold mine near the town of Al-Nuhud, in an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. A local administration official said about 50 people were also injured, while the number still missing had not been established.
Sudan Gold Mine Collapse Leaves Miners Trapped Underground
The Sudan Doctors Network initially reported at least 67 deaths and warned that the toll could rise as rescue teams continued searching beneath the debris. Later figures from local authorities put the number of confirmed deaths at 82.
Accounts differed over exactly when the collapse began. A local official said one shaft gave way before the failure spread into interconnected tunnels, while survivors said much of the collapse occurred on Tuesday evening.
Survivors described a large section of the mine giving way with miners still underground. They said rescuers were struggling to remove soil and rocks because machinery capable of reaching the buried shafts was not readily available.
The Associated Press reported that only one privately owned forklift was available to assist rescue efforts at the site. Survivors said some of the trapped miners were believed to be at depths of more than 30 meters.
Informal Mine Operated With Limited Safety Measures
The Sudan Doctors Network described Al-Zara as an informal mining site where workers lacked basic safety protections. The group called for urgent medical and logistical assistance and for rescue operations to continue as long as people remained missing.
It also urged authorities controlling the area to address unregulated mining, saying the lack of protective equipment and emergency services placed workers at serious risk.
Artisanal mining is widespread across Sudan, where miners often work in shafts excavated with basic tools and limited structural reinforcement. Remote sites can be particularly difficult to reach when collapses occur, leaving rescue teams dependent on equipment available locally.
Sudan has recorded other deadly mining accidents in recent years. A mine collapse killed 38 people in 2021, while another accident killed 14 miners in 2023, according to the Associated Press.
West Kordofan’s Mining Industry Operates Amid War
The disaster occurred in a region deeply affected by Sudan’s war between the military and the Rapid Support Forces, which has weakened public services and emergency-response capacity across large parts of the country.
Profile News has previously reported on humanitarian access challenges across Darfur and Kordofan as the conflict continues to disrupt services and aid operations.
Profile News has also covered the wider military and humanitarian impact of Sudan’s conflict in other parts of the country.
Gold is one of Sudan’s most important economic resources, and artisanal mining provides income for large numbers of workers. Much of the informal sector, however, operates outside fully regulated safety systems and in areas where specialized emergency services are limited.
At Al-Zara, rescuers were still searching for miners as the latest casualty figures were released. Officials and survivors said the final death toll could rise if more people are found inside the collapsed shafts.
Report Sources: Profile News, Sudan Doctors Network, Associated Press, Sudan Tribune, Reuters.
