At least 60 small-scale miners dead in Sudan gold mine collapse

At least 60 small-scale miners are dead, with many missing, after the collapse of a gold mine in Sudan's West Kordofan region.

The mine reportedly began to collapse on Tuesday after two shafts that had been dug close together began to give way.

Survivors say they do not know how many people remain trapped.

One surviving miner Khair al-Sayyed Jabara told news agency AFP there had been an overnight rescue operation since the collapse, and that fellow miners were having to dig using the same rudimentary tools they use to mine.

"Everyone's working very hard to retrieve the bodies or any survivors, but it's difficult. We need heavy machinery to clear the rock and soil."

Heavy machinery is often not readily available at small-scale mining sites. Sudan’s gold industry has become increasingly important since the civil war began in April 2023, providing a significant source of revenue in an economy devastated by conflict.

The civil war began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. As a result, the country is facing the world’s largest displacement crisis, with nearly 20 million people experiencing crisis-level hunger.