Gold mine collapses in Sudan: At least 60 workers killed, many more feared trapped
At least 60 people have died following the collapse of a gold mine in Sudan's West Kordofan region. The disaster is attributed to a lack of safety protocols and the use of rudimentary mining techniques in an area controlled by the Rapid Support Forces.
Why it matters
The collapse underscores the human cost of unregulated artisanal mining, which is currently fueling the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
At least 60 people have been killed since a gold mine collapsed at Al-Nuhud town in Sudan's West Kordofan on Sunday, with many more still missing and feared dead beneath the rubble.According to locals cited by the Reuters and AFP news agencies, the high death toll at tht Al-Zaraa mine was due to the the absence of safety procedures or rescue equipment at the makeshift wells, when the shafts collapsed."The shafts here are all close together, if one collapses, it brings down all the ones next to it", said Al-Amin Suleiman, a miner."There are people still trapped underground since yesterday. I don't think they are alive", he added.One of the survivors, Khair al-Sayyed Jabara, told AFP that an all-night rescue operation was carried out by his fellow miners using the same rudimentary tools they use to mine."We don't know how many more are still inside," he said.
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