At Least 10 Killed, 21 Injured In Fresh Gold Mine Collapse In Sudan

At least 10 people have been killed and 21 others injured after a gold mine collapsed in northern Sudan's Awny mining area near the Egyptian border. Rescue efforts recovered 10 bodies and pulled 21 injured miners from the rubble, while more workers were feared trapped underground. The disaster comes just days after another mine collapse in southern Kordofan killed at least 82 people. Sudan relies heavily on artisanal and small-scale gold mining, which provides livelihoods for many people but is often carried out under dangerous and poorly regulated conditions.

FRESH MINE COLLAPSE KILLS AT LEAST 10

At least 10 people have been killed and 21 others injured after a gold mine collapsed in northern Sudan, according to survivors who spoke to AFP.
The collapse occurred on Saturday at the Awny mining area, near Sudan's border with Egypt.
By Sunday morning, rescue efforts had recovered 10 bodies and pulled 21 injured miners from the rubble.
More miners were feared trapped underground, with survivors saying the search for missing workers was continuing.

MINERS CARRY OUT RESCUE
WITH LIMITED EQUIPMENT

The rescue operation has reportedly been carried out largely by miners themselves, using limited equipment.
One survivor told AFP that the miners were working to recover people trapped beneath the collapsed shafts, highlighting the difficulties faced in remote mining areas where specialised emergency equipment is often unavailable.
The lack of proper rescue machinery can make the first hours after a mine collapse particularly dangerous, as unstable ground may collapse again while workers attempt to reach those trapped underground.

UNREGULATED MINING INCREASES RISKS

The latest disaster highlights the dangers associated with Sudan's large artisanal and small-scale gold-mining sector.
Artisanal mining involves individuals or small groups extracting minerals using relatively basic tools and methods, often outside large, formally regulated mining operations.
In Sudan, this type of mining accounts for much of the country's gold production and provides an important source of income for millions of people.
However, many miners work in unofficial or poorly regulated areas, where safety standards and access to emergency services can be limited. Survivors and industry sources have described mine collapses and chemical exposure as recurring dangers.

SECOND MAJOR MINE DISASTER IN ONE WEEK

The northern Sudan collapse comes only days after another major mining disaster in West Kordofan.
At least 82 people were killed when an informal gold mine collapsed in the al-Zara area near Nuhud in West Kordofan last week.
Dozens of other people were also injured, while more workers were initially feared trapped beneath the rubble.
Rescue workers faced severe difficulties because of the remote location and limited equipment available at the site.
The two disasters within a short period have renewed attention on the safety conditions facing Sudan's gold miners.

GOLD REMAINS CRITICAL TO SUDAN'S ECONOMY

Gold is one of Sudan's most important natural resources and has become even more significant during the country's prolonged war.
Sudan's government reported gold production of 70 tonnes in 2025, describing it as the country's highest production level in five years.
The sector provides livelihoods for large numbers of people at a time when the wider economy has been severely affected by conflict.
Before the current war, artisanal mining was estimated to employ more than two million people.
GOLD AND THE WAR IN SUDAN
Sudan has been fighting a devastating civil war since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Gold has become an important source of revenue during the conflict, with both sides and their associated networks linked to the country's lucrative gold trade.
The conflict has devastated Sudan's economy, displaced millions of people and created severe humanitarian needs.
For many Sudanese who have lost other sources of income because of the war, informal gold mining has become one of the few available ways to earn money.

YOUNG WORKERS FACE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS

The gold rush has attracted many young Sudanese to mining areas, where they often work with basic equipment and for relatively low wages.
The risks extend beyond collapsing shafts.
Miners can also face exposure to dangerous chemicals used in gold extraction, as well as injuries caused by unstable tunnels, falling rocks and poorly supported mine structures.
In remote areas, injured workers may have to depend on fellow miners rather than professional emergency teams for rescue and medical assistance.

SEARCH FOR MISSING MINERS CONTINUES

The exact number of people who were inside the Awny mine when the shafts collapsed remains unclear.
The recovery of 10 bodies and rescue of 21 injured miners does not necessarily represent the final casualty figure, as survivors said other workers could still be trapped beneath the rubble.
Rescue efforts were continuing as authorities and miners searched the collapsed area.
The final death toll could therefore rise if additional victims are found.

REPEATED DISASTERS RAISE SAFETY QUESTIONS

The frequency of deadly mine collapses has raised concerns about the safety of Sudan's informal mining industry.
The latest incidents show how economic desperation, weak regulation and limited emergency infrastructure can combine to create dangerous working conditions.
With the war continuing to disrupt government services and economic activity, enforcing safety standards in remote mining areas remains particularly difficult.
For families depending on mining income, however, abandoning the industry is not always a realistic option.

A HUMAN COST BEHIND SUDAN'S GOLD

Sudan's gold industry generates valuable income for the country, but the latest collapse illustrates the human cost behind some of that production.
Workers enter unstable shafts in search of a valuable resource while relying on basic tools and fellow miners for their safety.
The deaths in the Awny mining area, coming so soon after the loss of at least 82 lives in West Kordofan, underline the dangers confronting Sudan's miners.
As the search for missing workers continues, the latest disaster is likely to intensify calls for safer mining practices, better regulation and stronger emergency rescue capacity across Sudan's gold-producing regions.