At least 67 dead in Sudan gold mine collapse

A collapse at the al‑Zara gold mine in Sudan’s West Kordofan province on Wednesday killed at least 67 people, according to a medical humanitarian group and survivors who were rescued from the site. The mine, situated in a remote area that is under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), suffered a structural failure that caused the shaft and surrounding tunnels to cave in, trapping workers and local laborers.

The incident occurs amid the ongoing three‑year conflict between the RSF and Sudan’s regular armed forces, which has left much of the region unstable and hampered emergency response efforts. Local authorities and aid workers are conducting search and rescue operations, but access remains limited due to security concerns. The high death toll underscores the broader humanitarian challenges faced by communities living in conflict‑affected mining zones, and officials have called for investigations into the cause of the collapse and for improved safety measures in similar operations.