Khartoum, September 16 (TNA) At least 67 people were killed after a gold mine collapsed in Sudan’s West Kordofan province, according to a medical group and survivors. Rescue operations were under way on Wednesday, with several miners feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The collapse occurred late Tuesday at the Al-Zara gold mine near the town of Nuhud. Survivors said the mine had several shafts and that people remained trapped underground following the accident.
The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers continue searching for survivors and recover bodies from the collapsed mine. However, the remote location and lack of heavy equipment have complicated rescue efforts.
The Sudan Doctors Network said the mine was located in an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been engaged in a prolonged conflict with Sudan’s military.
The medical group attributed the high number of casualties to inadequate safety measures and a lack of protective and rescue equipment. It called for continued search operations and the deployment of medical and logistical resources to assist the injured and those trapped underground.
Gold mining is a major source of livelihood for many people in Sudan, where artisanal miners often work in remote sites with limited safety arrangements. Local sources said fragile ground conditions and the absence of specialised rescue teams were hampering efforts at the Al-Zara mine.