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At least 82 people have been killed after an informal gold mine collapsed in Sudan’s West Kordofan state, with dozens more still missing and feared trapped under the rubble.
The collapse occurred at the al-Zara gold mine near Nuhud. Rescue workers recovered 60 bodies initially, followed by another 22 on Wednesday, according to local officials. Dozens of miners are still unaccounted for.
Rescue efforts have been hampered by a severe lack of equipment. Local rescuers reportedly have only a forklift to remove soil and rubble, while some miners are believed to be trapped more than 30 metres underground.
The mine consists of interconnected shafts, and the collapse of one shaft reportedly triggered collapses in others.
Survivors and local residents have been involved in digging for trapped workers, but the absence of specialised rescue equipment has made the operation difficult.
West Kordofan is controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting Sudan’s military since 2023.
Much of Sudan’s gold mining is conducted informally, often with limited safety measures, exposing miners to significant risks.
The death toll could rise as rescue and recovery operations continue.