Tragic Gold Mine Collapse in Sudan's West Kordofan Claims at Least 70 Lives

At least 70 people have lost their lives following the collapse of a gold mine in Sudan’s West Kordofan state. According to the Kordofan Observatory monitoring group, a series of adjoining mining shafts gave way at the al-Zaraa mine, located near al-Nuhud town, on Tuesday, trapping numerous artisanal miners.

In the wake of the disaster, local residents using rudimentary tools have been struggling through loose and sandy soil to pull survivors from the debris, as no specialized rescue teams have arrived to assist. Khair al-Sayyed Jabara, a survivor of the incident, told the AFP news agency that he and other miners worked through the night with basic tools, emphasizing the urgent need for heavy equipment. "We don’t know how many more are still inside," he stated.

Survivors and local sources have raised concerns regarding the total absence of safety procedures, noting that the shafts were packed so tightly that the collapse of one triggered neighboring ones. The Sudan Doctors Network reported that ongoing search efforts could yield a higher death toll, while strongly condemning the lack of basic safeguards and the "negligence" that placed miners in grave danger.

The disaster area in West Kordofan is currently held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been engaged in a conflict with Sudan’s army since April 2023. Smuggled gold serves as a vital revenue stream for the group. In an official statement, critics noted that unregulated mining in RSF-controlled zones directly threatens civilian lives due to the total lack of safety standards and protection equipment. Authorities have been urged to provide medical and logistical support while halting unsafe mining practices.

Sudan remains one of Africa's top gold producers, with the vast majority of its output stemming from dangerous, informal mining operations at unofficial or disused sites.