Sudan Gold Mine Collapse Kills At Least 67, Many Still Missing Under Rubble

At least 67 people have been killed after the Al Zara gold mine collapsed near Nuhud in Sudan’s West Kordofan province, with more people feared trapped under the rubble as miners and rescuers continue the search.

The mine is located in an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting Sudan’s military since April 2023. The Sudan Doctors Network said the death toll could rise as search operations continue for people trapped beneath the collapsed earth and rocks.

Survivors and the medical network said it occurred on Tuesday evening, while the Kordofan Observatory, a monitoring group, reported that the collapse took place on Sunday. The discrepancy had not been resolved as of Wednesday.

By Wednesday morning, miners had recovered at least 60 bodies, according to one survivor. He said people were still trapped inside the mine. Another survivor described the collapse as massive and said rescuers did not have the heavy machinery needed to remove soil and rocks and search for people trapped at depths of more than 30 metres.

The Kordofan Observatory said the mine consisted of interconnected shafts extending for more than 1 kilometre. It reported that at least 70 miners were either killed or missing, although that figure differs from the Sudan Doctors Network’s confirmed death toll of 67.

The Al Zara mine is an informal mining site employing unregulated workers and lacks basic safety and protective measures, according to the Sudan Doctors Network. The accident has once again highlighted the risks faced by Sudan’s large artisanal mining workforce, where safety standards are often poorly enforced.

The medical network has called for search and rescue operations to continue and for the provision of the medical and logistical resources needed to deal with the disaster. Rescue efforts have been particularly difficult because of the remote location and lack of appropriate equipment.

Sudan is a major gold producer, and small scale and informal mines are spread across the country. Gold has also become increasingly important during the war, while large quantities have reportedly been smuggled out of Sudan. Experts commissioned by the United Nations have said gold producing areas controlled by the RSF have helped finance the paramilitary group.

Deadly mine collapses are not uncommon in Sudan. A mine collapse in 2023 killed 14 miners, while another in 2021 killed 38. The latest disaster comes as Sudan remains engulfed in war between the military and RSF, a conflict that has killed at least 59,000 people according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data monitoring group, although aid organisations say the actual toll is likely considerably higher.