Sudan gold mine collapse kills at least 82 people with many missing

A gold mine collapse in Sudan has claimed at least 82 lives and left dozens more unaccounted for. The disaster struck the al-Zara gold mine in Nuhud, West Kordofan province, which is currently controlled by paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The RSF and Sudanese military have clashed over three years, straining local resources and emergency response capabilities.

The mine, spanning a kilometer across fragile sandy soil, experienced a structural failure on Sunday, causing the collapse of multiple interconnected shafts. Rescue operations are hindered by a lack of heavy machinery and specialized tools, with only a single privately owned forklift available for excavation efforts. Suleiman Abu Hmeida, an emergency response official, confirmed the grim reality, stating that 82 bodies were recovered by Wednesday and a dozen remain missing.

Survivors described the situation as dire, noting the depths of the shafts (over thirty meters) and the absence of machinery to lift debris and search for survivors. The mining industry in Sudan is fraught with safety issues, as basic regulations are rarely enforced. Past incidents include a 2023 collapse that killed 14 miners and a 2021 disaster claiming 38 lives.

Despite these warnings, thousands of small-scale and informal mines operate across the nation, with gold serving as a crucial economic resource and a point of contention in the ongoing civil war. United Nations experts report that gold has been smuggled to finance the RSF, which maintains control over key gold-producing territories in Darfur and Kordofan regions.

The civil war, which began in April 2023, has reportedly caused at least 59,000 deaths, though the true toll is likely much higher.