The Sudanese Peace Government has appealed for urgent international assistance after the collapse of the Al-Zara gold mine in West Kordofan killed more than 82 people, as search and recovery operations continue amid severe shortages of specialised equipment.
Information Minister and government spokesperson Khalid Ahmed Danaa said authorities were coordinating with local communities to search for people still trapped beneath the rubble at the mine in the Fouga area of Al-Nuhud locality.
The government said the death toll had surpassed 82 and could rise further as rescuers continue efforts to reach missing miners.
Danaa said rescue operations were being hampered by a lack of specialised machinery and additional technical capacity needed to reach people buried underground.
The Peace Government issued an urgent appeal to international and Sudanese humanitarian organisations, United Nations agencies and donors to provide technical, logistical and medical assistance.
It also called for support for affected families and communities in West Kordofan.
The government said protecting civilians and workers was a fundamental responsibility and pledged to examine measures aimed at reducing the dangers associated with artisanal mining and improving protections for miners.
It did not provide a precise figure for the number of people still missing or give further details on what caused the mine to collapse.
The statement marks the Peace Government’s first major public response to the disaster, which has become one of Sudan’s deadliest mining accidents in recent years.
Local officials and rescue workers earlier said at least 82 bodies had been recovered from the Al-Zara mine, while dozens of people remained unaccounted for.
Rescue operations have been conducted with extremely limited equipment. Survivors and local volunteers have been digging through unstable soil and collapsed shafts, with reports that only a single privately owned forklift was initially available to assist the operation.
The informal mine is located near Al-Nuhud in West Kordofan, an area currently under the control of the Rapid Support Forces.
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining employs large numbers of Sudanese but frequently operates without adequate safety equipment, engineering oversight or emergency rescue capacity.
The Al-Zara collapse has renewed scrutiny of safety conditions across Sudan’s informal mining industry and the ability of authorities to respond to large-scale industrial disasters during the country’s continuing war.
