West Kordofan, Sudan, September 17, 2026: At least 70 people have been killed or reported missing after a gold mine collapsed in Sudan’s West Kordofan state, highlighting the continuing dangers faced by workers in the country’s largely informal mining sector.
The disaster occurred at the Al-Zara gold mine near Al-Nuhud, where several interconnected mining shafts collapsed. Local monitoring groups said more than 70 artisanal miners were either dead or missing, while other reports put the number of recovered bodies higher.
Rescue Efforts Hampered by Lack of Equipment
Rescue operations have been complicated by the mine’s unstable, sandy terrain and the absence of specialised rescue teams and heavy machinery. Local residents and fellow miners have reportedly been using basic tools to search for people trapped underground.
Survivors said some miners could still be underground, raising concerns that the death toll could increase as rescue and recovery operations continue.
Reports have differed on the precise death toll. The Sudan Doctors Network initially reported at least 67 deaths, while other local sources and an official cited by the Associated Press reported that as many as 82 bodies had been recovered.
Informal Mining Under Scrutiny
The Al-Zara mine is an informal operation where workers reportedly lack basic safety equipment and protection. Sudan is a major gold producer, but much of its gold comes from artisanal and small-scale mining, where safety standards are often difficult to enforce.
Deadly mine collapses have occurred previously in Sudan. A collapse in 2023 killed 14 miners, while another incident in 2021 claimed dozens of lives.
Disaster Amid Sudan’s Ongoing War
The collapse occurred in West Kordofan, an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting Sudan’s military since the conflict began in April 2023.
Gold has become an important economic resource during the conflict, with experts reporting that gold revenues and smuggling have contributed to financing the rival sides.
The latest mine disaster has renewed attention on the risks faced by thousands of informal miners working in Sudan’s gold-producing regions, particularly where conflict has weakened government oversight and emergency-response capacity.