Sudan gold mine collapse leaves at least 60 dead

KHARTOUM: At least 60 people have been killed after a gold mine collapsed in Sudan’s West Kordofan region, with several others feared trapped beneath the rubble, according to survivors involved in the rescue effort.

The collapse occurred on Tuesday when several mine shafts gave way while dozens of small-scale miners were working underground. By Wednesday morning, rescuers had recovered around 60 bodies, although the exact number of people still missing remained unclear.

Survivors said fellow miners were continuing rescue efforts using basic equipment, but the operation was severely hampered by the lack of heavy machinery needed to remove large amounts of rock and soil.

One miner said the mine shafts were located close to one another, meaning the collapse of one section triggered failures in neighbouring shafts. He said some miners had remained trapped underground since the previous day and expressed little hope that they had survived.

Mine collapses are a recurring danger in Sudan, where much of the country’s gold is produced through informal and small-scale mining. Workers often operate in abandoned or poorly secured shafts with limited safety measures and rely on basic tools to extract gold.

The sector has become increasingly important during Sudan’s ongoing war, which began in April 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Gold revenues have been a significant source of financing for the rival sides, while the wider economic crisis has pushed many young people towards hazardous mining work.

Workers also face exposure to toxic chemicals, including mercury and cyanide, used during gold processing. The European Union imposed restrictions in July on the sale and export of mercury and cyanide to Sudan, citing concerns linked to their use in the country’s gold sector.

West Kordofan, where the latest accident occurred, is controlled by the RSF, making a large-scale rescue operation particularly difficult. Much of the region also relies heavily on humanitarian assistance and local community networks.

Sudan remains one of Africa’s major gold producers, but a substantial portion of its production is reportedly smuggled through neighbouring countries before reaching international markets. International governments have imposed sanctions on networks linked to the illicit gold trade, alleging that revenues from the sector help finance the ongoing conflict.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned that control over Sudan’s natural resources is contributing to a war economy and helping prolong the fighting.