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6 killed in traditional gold mine collapse in River Nile

Moatinoon
At least six people were killed and about 20 others are missing after a traditional gold mine collapsed in River Nile State, northern Sudan, according to local officials and volunteers on Saturday.

Hassan Ibrahim Karar, executive director of the Berber locality, said in a statement, quoted by News.az, citing foreign media outlets: "The collapse occurred yesterday (Friday) in a gold mine in the Umm Oud area, west of Berber city." He added that search operations are underway for others believed to be still trapped under the rubble.

According to local sources, including the TAM (Tamm) Collective, urgent rescue efforts continue through the efforts of volunteers and members of the local community, given the lack of the necessary capabilities and mechanisms to deal with similar incidents.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that the depth of the well and the narrowness of its passages, along with the fragile nature of the soil, complicate the rescue operation and increase the risks for the response teams.

The residents appealed to the relevant authorities to quickly intervene and provide specialized equipment and machinery to rescue those trapped and save those who remain alive.

Such disasters are recurring in artisanal mining areas in several Sudanese states, particularly in the River Nile, Northern, and Darfur states. These disasters are a result of the absence of occupational safety requirements and weak oversight of mining activities, exposing the lives of thousands of miners daily to the risks of collapses and suffocation.

Traditional gold mining plays a pivotal role in Sudans economy, with an estimated 1.5 million artisanal miners, producing nearly 80% of the countrys gold. Official figures indicate that production will reach approximately 64 tons by 2024.