Sudan: At least 60 dead after gold mine collapse in Kordofan

Wednesday 16 September 2026 - 08:50

At least 60 people lost their lives on Wednesday, September 16, in the collapse of a gold mine located in southern Sudan. Several miners may still be trapped under the rubble as search efforts continue under difficult conditions.

A death toll that could still rise

The tragedy occurred at the Al-Zaraa mine in the Kordofan region. According to two survivors quoted after the accident, at least 60 people were killed when the mine's structures collapsed.

However, the exact number of victims remains uncertain. There are still reports of individuals trapped under the debris, and search operations conducted by other miners continued through the night following the accident.

"We don't know how many others are still inside," stated Khair al-Sayyed Jabara, one of the miners involved in the rescue operations.

This uncertainty complicates the establishment of a definitive toll. As long as the search efforts are not completed, the number of victims could still evolve.

Rescue operations carried out by miners

In the face of the collapse, workers present at the site participated in the rescue operations themselves. The efforts included attempts to free those buried and to search for potential survivors in accessible areas.

The situation remains particularly delicate in a mining environment where structural instability can make rescue efforts dangerous. The extent of the damage and access to the collapsed areas also pose major obstacles to finding the missing individuals.

Artisanal mining, a major activity in Sudan

Gold mining plays an important role in Sudan's economy. In several regions of the country, gold extraction relies on artisanal or semi-industrial activities that employ numerous miners.

However, this activity exposes workers to various risks, especially in sites where safety conditions are inadequate. Collapses can be particularly deadly when tunnels or support structures fail to withstand the pressures of the terrain.

The tragedy at Al-Zaraa thus serves as a reminder of the dangers faced daily by workers in Sudanese gold mines.

A region already affected by violence

The accident occurs as Sudan is experiencing a period of deep violence and instability. Several regions of the country are affected by the conflict that has pitted the Sudanese army against the Rapid Support Forces since 2023.

Kordofan is particularly among the areas regularly affected by clashes and attacks. In this context, rescue capacities and access to disaster-stricken areas can be severely disrupted.

For the families of the missing miners, the urgent priority now is to locate those still buried and to establish an accurate toll of this disaster.

At this stage, the reported toll indicates at least 60 dead, but the final number of victims can only be confirmed once the search operations are completed.