Arabic version: انهيار منجم في السودان يخلّف ما لا يقل عن 60 قتيلاً

According to Allafrica, at least 60 people have reportedly been killed after an informal gold mine collapsed in Sudan’s West Kordofan region, while dozens more were feared trapped underground.

The collapse occurred at the Al-Zaraa mine, an unregulated site where dozens of small-scale miners were working. The mine began collapsing, forcing miners to undertake a difficult rescue operation with basic equipment.

The site is in an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, where artisanal miners work in largely unregulated conditions. A shortage of heavy machinery and basic safety equipment has severely hampered rescue efforts.

The disaster underscores the risks facing thousands of Sudanese who have turned to informal gold mining during the country’s economic collapse and war. Gold is a major source of revenue in Sudan’s conflict economy, with much of the country’s production extracted through small-scale operations and significant quantities reportedly smuggled across borders.