Sudan gold mine collapse kills 15 miners

Fifteen miners have died and one was injured following a partial collapse at a decommissioned gold mine in northern Sudan. The incident occurred at the Mohamed Tawfiq mine in Wadi Halfa, near the Egyptian border, where the miners had illegally entered the shut-down facility.

The Sudanese Mineral Resources Company confirmed the fatalities, stating that "parts of the mine collapsed... killing 15 miners and injuring one." This tragedy highlights the perilous conditions faced by many in Sudan, particularly since the eruption of war in April 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Both warring factions heavily rely on Sudan's gold industry for funding, a situation exacerbated by the war's devastating impact on the country's already fragile economy. This economic collapse has driven a significant portion of the population into dangerous gold rushes, often in unofficial zones or decommissioned mines like the one where the recent tragedy occurred.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining accounts for the majority of gold extracted in Sudan, employing over two million people even before the current conflict. These operations frequently lack proper safety measures and utilize hazardous chemicals, leading to widespread illness. Despite being Africa's third-largest gold producer, much of the nation's output is smuggled, with only a fraction exported through official channels.

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parts of the mine collapsed... killing 15 miners and injuring one