At least 60 dead in gold mine collapse in Sudan

A severe accident occurred at the Al-Zaraa gold mine in southern Sudan on Tuesday when several shafts collapsed. According to reports, at least 60 people have died, while many others are believed to be trapped under the rubble. Rescue operations are underway, but survivors report a lack of heavy equipment, complicating the recovery of victims.

The local medical aid organization Dar Hamar reported 64 confirmed deaths, while other sources have raised the death toll to over 80. A local administrator stated that the rescue efforts are being carried out with rudimentary methods and there is insufficient equipment for a swift recovery.

According to eyewitness accounts, miners were working under life-threatening conditions, indicating a lack of safety measures in the region. Reports suggest that many of those affected entered the mine unaware of the danger they were in.

The disaster occurred in the evening, and by Wednesday morning, most of the recovery operations had been completed, although the exact number of those still missing remains unclear. The mine is located near the town of El-Nahud in the West Kordofan state.

The recovery efforts are hindered by the remote location of the mine and unstable conditions in the region. A survivor recounted the chaos following the collapse, stating that numerous people are trapped under the debris.

The Al-Zaraa mine is one of many in Sudan that attracts laborers due to high gold prices and a lack of formal employment. Estimates indicate that safety standards are often not enforced in these informal mines, leading to such tragedies.