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At least 15 miners dead in Sudan gold mine collapse
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Disasters & Emergencies

At least 15 miners dead in Sudan gold mine collapse

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • At least 15 miners died and one was injured in a gold mine collapse in northern Sudan.
  • The accident occurred in Wadi Halfa despite the mine being legally closed due to safety concerns.
  • Sudan's mining sector employs over two million people, with traditional mines producing 80% of the country's gold.

At least 15 miners perished and one sustained injuries following the collapse of a traditional gold mine in Sudan's northern state, near the Egyptian border. The Sudanese Mineral Resources Company confirmed the incident in Wadi Halfa, stating the injured individual was hospitalized and the deceased were returned to their families.

the accident occurred after several miners entered the mine, despite it being legally closed

— Sudanese Mineral Resources CompanyExplaining the circumstances leading to the mine collapse.

Rescue operations were immediately launched by company teams in coordination with various security and rescue departments. Initial reports indicate the miners entered the site despite it being legally closed and warned against by environmental and safety authorities due to the high risk of collapse. The company reiterated that mine closures are based on thorough technical and engineering assessments aimed at protecting lives.

the company sent field teams to the accident site in coordination with the Economic Mining Security Department, the Mining Police and rescue teams from the state government and the locality of Wadi Halfa, and rescue operations were 'immediately initiated'

— Sudanese Mineral Resources CompanyDescribing the immediate response to the disaster.

The incident has prompted calls for all miners to adhere strictly to directives and avoid entering closed mines for their own safety. Mine collapses have tragically claimed dozens of lives in Sudan due to persistent safety issues. The traditional mining sector is a significant employer, supporting over two million people under harsh conditions and accounting for roughly 80% of Sudan's annual gold output, estimated at 70 tons.

the decisions to close mines are only made after exhaustive technical and engineering evaluations, whose main objective is 'to protect lives and prevent accidents'

— Sudanese Mineral Resources CompanyJustifying the closure of the mine prior to the collapse.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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