13 Miners Killed and Others Injured in Gold Well Collapse in South Kordofan

Thirteen miners were killed and six others injured following the collapse of five gold mining wells in South Kordofan State.

The office of the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company in South Kordofan State reported in a statement that approximately five abandoned wells at the Umm Fakroun mine in the Abu Jubayhah district collapsed on January 23rd. The incident resulted in the deaths of 13 miners and injuries to six others, with several individuals still reported missing.

The company’s state director, Warsha Nasser Warsha, explained that the collapsed wells were abandoned and had been decommissioned. However, some miners had sneaked in and operated illegally after cutting the wells’ support beams. This caused the structures to lose stability, leading to the collapse.

He also revealed the state office’s plan for the current year, which aims to reduce well collapse accidents. This plan includes securing abandoned wells in coordination with security agencies, as well as demolishing and filling in wells that are at risk of collapsing.