Sudan gold mine collapse kills at least 60, survivors tell AFP

At least 60 small-scale miners have died and others are feared trapped after shafts collapsed at the Al‑Zaraa gold mine near the town of El‑Nahud in Sudan’s West Kordofan region, two survivors told AFP.

What happened

The collapses began on Tuesday. By the following morning, rescuers and fellow miners had retrieved 60 bodies from the site, survivors said. An all‑night rescue operation used the same rudimentary tools miners use to work the shafts.

“We don’t know how many more are still inside,” Khair al‑Sayyed Jabara told AFP.

Another survivor, Al‑Amin Suleiman, said the shafts at Al‑Zaraa are close together and that when one collapses it can bring down neighbouring shafts.

“The shafts here are all close together, if one collapses, it brings down all the ones next to it,” Al‑Amin Suleiman told AFP.

Rescue challenges

Survivors assisting the recovery said clearing the rock and soil was difficult without heavy equipment. One of the miners described the need for heavy machinery to reach those still under the rubble.

“Everyone’s working very hard to retrieve the bodies or any survivors, but it’s difficult. We need heavy machinery to clear the rock and soil,” Khair al‑Sayyed Jabara told AFP.

Wider context

The AFP report noted that, since fighting between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces began in April 2023, gold has been a significant source of funding for both sides and for foreign backers. The conflict has battered Sudan’s economy and driven many people into artisanal and small‑scale mining in unofficial zones or decommissioned mines.

The report said artisanal and small‑scale mining accounts for the majority of gold extracted in Sudan and described the country as facing severe humanitarian strain, with nearly 20 million people confronting crisis levels of hunger.

Investigation and ongoing operations

Survivors and local rescuers continued recovery work after the initial collapse. The number of missing people remains unclear; AFP reported that there are people still trapped underground.