**Gold Mine Collapse Claims Lives of Over 70 in Sudan's West Kordofan**
*September 16, 2026*
At least 70 individuals have lost their lives following a catastrophic collapse at a gold mine in West Kordofan, Sudan. The incident occurred at the al-Zaraa mine, located near the town of al-Nuhud, where a series of interconnected mining shafts gave way, trapping numerous artisanal miners inside.
The Kordofan Observatory, a local monitoring group, reported the tragic event on Wednesday, highlighting that many miners were still unaccounted for as rescue efforts continued. Eyewitness accounts indicate that local residents, equipped only with basic tools, have been attempting to dig through the loose and sandy soil to reach potential survivors. Khair al-Sayyed Jabara, a miner who managed to escape, described the desperate situation, stating that heavy machinery was urgently needed to assist in the rescue operations.
The collapse has raised serious concerns regarding safety protocols in the region's mining operations. Amin Suleiman, another miner, noted that the shafts were so closely packed that the failure of one led to the collapse of others, exacerbating the disaster. Local reports suggest that the high death toll can be attributed to the absence of essential safety measures and rescue equipment at the site.
The Sudan Doctors Network, a medical organization based in Khartoum, has warned that the casualty figures may continue to rise as search efforts progress. The group has condemned the negligence that has put the lives of miners at risk, emphasizing the urgent need for improved safety standards in the mining sector.
West Kordofan is currently under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been engaged in conflict with the Sudanese army since April 2023. The RSF has reportedly relied on smuggled gold as a significant source of revenue, raising concerns about the regulation of mining activities in the area. The Sudan Doctors Network has called for an end to unregulated mining, highlighting that the lack of safety standards poses a direct threat to the lives of civilians.
Sudan is recognized as one of Africa's leading gold producers, with a significant portion of its gold extracted from hazardous informal mining operations at abandoned or unofficial sites. The ongoing crisis in the region underscores the urgent need for regulatory oversight and safety measures to protect those engaged in the perilous work of artisanal mining.
As the search for survivors continues, the community remains in mourning for the lives lost in this tragic event, while calls for accountability and reform in the mining sector grow louder.