At least 80 people have died after a gold mine collapsed near El Nahud in West Kordofan, Sudan, a local administration official said on Tuesday. The incident also left around 50 people injured, while the exact number of workers still trapped underground remains unknown.
The collapse occurred in a mine that extracts gold from the region’s rich mineral deposits. Emergency services were dispatched immediately, but rescuers have reported that the depth and instability of the site make progress slow and dangerous.
West Kordofan is one of Sudan’s 18 states, located in the western part of the country. The region has a history of mining activity, though safety standards and emergency response capabilities have often been questioned.
Local authorities have urged the public to stay away from the site to allow rescue teams to work without interference. They also called for additional support from national agencies to help locate and recover any survivors.
The disaster highlights the risks faced by workers in Sudan’s informal mining sector, where safety regulations are frequently inadequate and emergency preparedness is limited.
<small>Source: AllAfrica — read the original story there.</small>
