At least 70 killed in Sudan gold mine collapse as rescue effort continues
Residents and fellow miners are searching for survivors at the al-Zaraa mine, where adjoining shafts collapsed near al-Nuhud in West Kordofan.
At least 70 artisanal miners have reportedly been killed after adjoining shafts collapsed at the al-Zaraa gold mine near al-Nuhud in Sudan’s West Kordofan state, according to Al Jazeera Global News.
The Kordofan Observatory monitoring group said miners were trapped after the shafts collapsed. Residents and fellow miners continued rescue efforts with rudimentary tools in loose, sandy soil, while no specialised rescue teams had joined the operation.
Survivors said heavy equipment was needed and warned that more people could remain underground. Sudan Doctors Network said the search was continuing and the casualty figure could rise.
Local sources attributed the high death toll to a lack of safety procedures and rescue equipment. The medical group also said the site lacked basic safeguards for workers and condemned what it described as negligence.
West Kordofan is controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has been fighting Sudan’s army since April 2023. Gold, including production from dangerous informal mines, is an important source of revenue in Sudan and for the RSF.
