West Kordofan: At least 60 people have been killed after a gold mine collapsed in Sudan’s West Kordofan region, with more miners feared to be trapped underground, according to local sources and survivors.
The collapse occurred at the Al Zaraa gold mine in the Rarig area of El Nahud locality in West Kordofan. Local reports said the mine collapsed on Sunday, September 13.
The reported death toll remains provisional. Two local sources cited by Reuters said at least 60 people had been killed. Two survivors speaking to Agence France Presse also said about 60 bodies had been recovered and that more people could still be underground.
The number of people still missing has not been confirmed. The exact number of miners who were inside the mine when the collapse occurred is also unclear.
Survivors said miners and local volunteers took part in an overnight effort to recover victims and search for survivors. The rescue work was difficult because of the depth of the shafts and the lack of heavy equipment to remove rock and soil.
One survivor, Khair al Sayyed Jabara, said miners did not know how many people remained underground. He described efforts to recover bodies and search for people who might have survived the collapse.
Another miner, Al Amin Suleiman, said the mine shafts were close to one another and that the collapse of one could affect others. He said people were still trapped underground.
The cause of the collapse has not been confirmed.
The accident highlights the dangers faced by people working in Sudan’s artisanal and small scale gold mining industry. Safety conditions at many mining sites can be difficult, particularly in remote areas where access to equipment and emergency services is limited.
Deadly mine collapses have also been reported elsewhere in Sudan this year, highlighting continuing safety concerns in the sector.
Gold is an important part of Sudan’s economy and has become increasingly significant since the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces began in April 2023.
The conflict has disrupted agriculture, trade and other economic activities, leaving many people without stable sources of income. Artisanal and small scale gold mining has become an important source of income for many people and accounts for a large share of Sudan’s gold production.
The war has also affected gold production and trade across the country, while insecurity and poor infrastructure have made economic activity more difficult in many areas.
For now, the priority is the search for miners who may still be underground and the recovery and identification of those who have died. The final death toll could change as more information becomes available about the number of people who were inside the mine.
The collapse is one of the latest deadly incidents involving Sudan’s gold mining sector, where difficult working conditions continue to pose risks to miners.