At least 67 people have been killed after a gold mine collapsed in Sudan’s West Kordofan state, with more miners feared trapped underground.
The collapse occurred at the Al-Zaraa mine near the town of Al-Nuhud, according to reports from survivors and local sources. Shafts began collapsing on Tuesday, with dozens of bodies recovered by Wednesday. Rescue efforts have been carried out by fellow miners and residents using basic tools. Survivors said heavy machinery was needed to reach people who could still be trapped beneath the rubble.
Khair al-Sayyed Jabara, a survivor, told AFP that miners had worked through the night searching for victims. “We don’t know how many more are still inside,” he said. Another miner, Amin Suleiman, said the mine shafts had been dug close together. He said the collapse of one shaft caused others to give way.
Reports differ on the death toll. Reuters cited local sources who put the number at at least 60, while an RSF-linked source told AFP that 82 people had been killed and 50 wounded. Local sources have attributed the high death toll to a lack of safety procedures and rescue equipment.
West Kordofan is controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has been fighting Sudan’s army since April 2023. Gold mining is an important source of revenue in areas controlled by the group. Sudan is one of Africa’s major gold producers, with much of its production coming from informal and hazardous mining operations.
