By Swift Reporter
At least 10 people have been killed and 21 others injured after a gold mine collapsed in northern Sudan, with rescuers continuing efforts to locate miners feared trapped underground.
The collapse occurred on Saturday at the Awny mining area near Sudan’s border with Egypt, according to two survivors who spoke to reporters following overnight rescue efforts.
By Sunday, 10 bodies had been recovered while 21 injured miners had been pulled from the collapsed shafts, one survivor said. The survivor, who requested anonymity for security reasons, was working at the mine when the collapse occurred.
Another survivor said the rescue operation was largely being conducted by fellow miners, with limited equipment available to clear the rubble and reach those still missing.
The number of miners trapped underground remains unclear, and the search operation was continuing as survivors and fellow workers attempted to recover those believed to be buried beneath the collapsed shafts.
The incident highlights the dangers faced by thousands of people involved in Sudan’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector, where miners often work in unregulated areas using basic tools and equipment.
The latest collapse comes just days after another mining disaster in southern Kordofan, where at least 82 people were reportedly killed and dozens injured when a mine collapsed.
Artisanal and small-scale mining accounts for a large share of Sudan’s gold production and provides livelihoods for millions of people. The sector had employed more than two million people even before the war that began in April 2023 severely disrupted the country’s economy and livelihoods.
Sudan remains one of Africa’s major gold-producing countries. Government figures indicate that the country produced about 70 tonnes of gold last year, its highest output in five years.
The latest disaster has renewed concerns over safety conditions in informal mining operations, where workers often have limited access to protective equipment, professional mining systems and emergency rescue resources.
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