67 Killed In Sudan Gold Mine Collapse

KHARTOUM, Sept 16: At least 67 people were killed after the Al-Zara gold mine collapsed near Al-Nuhud in Sudan’s West Kordofan state, with search operations continuing for survivors, the Sudan Doctors Network said Wednesday.

The independent medical network said the mine is located in an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). It said rescuers were still searching for survivors and people trapped under the rubble, warning that the death toll could rise because of the mine’s lack of basic safety measures and protective equipment.

The network condemned what it described as negligence that put miners’ lives at risk and called for search-and-rescue operations to continue, along with the provision of medical and logistical resources needed to respond to the disaster.

It also urged authorities controlling the area to take responsibility for protecting civilians and mining workers and to halt unregulated mining activities to prevent similar accidents.

Artisanal mining employs more than 2 million people across Sudan and accounts for about 80 percent of the country’s gold production. The sector provides livelihoods for large numbers of Sudanese but is associated with hazardous working conditions.

Gold is a major source of foreign currency for Sudan, particularly after the country lost most of its oil revenues and foreign-exchange resources following South Sudan’s independence in 2011.

Sudan has been engulfed in a war between the army and the RSF since April 2023. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced about 13 million, according to UN and international estimates.