10 Killed and 21 Injured in Sudan Gold Mine Collapse
Northern State – Mashawir
A gold mine in northern Sudan collapsed, killing 10 people and injuring at least 21 others, according to two survivors who spoke to Agence France-Presse (AFP) today, Sunday, following overnight rescue operations.
Since the outbreak of war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, both sides have relied heavily on the gold sector to finance their war efforts, according to the United Nations, in addition to receiving support from external parties.
Wells in the Ouni mining area in northern Sudan, near the Egyptian border, began collapsing on Saturday. By Sunday morning, 10 bodies had been recovered and 21 injured people rescued, according to one survivor who worked at the site and requested anonymity for security reasons.
Another survivor, who also requested anonymity, said that “excavation is carried out using the machinery available at the mine and by individuals.”
The two survivors said search and rescue operations were still underway, amid fears that more victims could be found.
The conflict has inflicted severe damage on Sudan’s already fragile economy, causing large numbers of Sudanese to lose their jobs and pushing many into dangerous gold-mining activities.
Artisanal mining takes place in informal areas or inside abandoned mines, where workers dig by hand and use rudimentary tools in exchange for low daily wages.
Inside the mines, many of which lack adequate safety equipment, workers extract gold fragments from rock formations, exposing themselves to hazardous chemicals such as cyanide, which can contribute to serious health problems.
Mine collapses are a recurring occurrence across Sudan. In areas controlled by the army in northern and eastern Sudan, workers enter abandoned mines in the hope of earning meager daily wages.
Last week, at least 82 people were killed and dozens injured in the collapse of a mine in the Kordofan region.
Even before the war threatened millions of Sudanese with hunger, the mining sector provided employment for more than two million people, according to industry data.
