60 workers killed in South Sudan gold mine collapse, many missing
File photo/Reuters
At least 60 mine workers have been killed after a gold mine collapsed in South Sudan. Two survivors of the accident told AFP on Wednesday. Many more workers are believed to be trapped under the rubble.
The tunnels at the Al Jara mine near the town of Al Nuhud in West Kordofan began collapsing on Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, 60 bodies had been recovered from the site.
One of the survivors, Khair Al Sayyed Jabara, told AFP, “We do not know how many more people are trapped inside.” He said they spent the entire night carrying out rescue operations with fellow mine workers. They used the basic tools they normally use while working at the mine for the rescue effort.
He said, “Everyone is trying very hard to recover the bodies or find anyone alive. But the work is difficult. We need heavy equipment to remove the rocks and soil.”
Fighting between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023. Along with foreign assistance, a major portion of the war expenses of both sides comes from the gold industry.
The conflict has further devastated Sudan’s already weak economy. A large part of the country’s population has become unemployed. As a result, many people have turned to risky gold mining.
A large portion of the country’s mined gold comes from small scale and cottage mining operations conducted in informal areas or abandoned mines.
Another worker, Al Amin Sulaiman, was working near the edge of the Al Jara mine on Tuesday. He told AFP, “All the tunnels here are very close to one another. If one collapses, all the tunnels next to it also collapse.”
He said, “That is what happened here. So far, 60 bodies have been recovered. But many more have been trapped underground since yesterday. I do not think they are alive.”
Sudan is facing one of the world’s largest hunger and displacement crises. Around 20 million people in the country are facing critical levels of food insecurity.
Source: AFP(Adapted)
