Sudan Gold Mine Collapse Kills 10, Injures 21

A gold mine collapse in northeastern Sudan killed at least 10 to 11 miners and injured 21 to 30 others, according to survivor accounts and a state mining official, with rescuers continuing to search for people trapped under the rubble. The collapse occurred Saturday in the Awny or Oni mining area near the Egyptian border, though one local report gave a lower toll of six dead and described several shafts collapsing at the Oni El Dakkan mine. Survivors said miners were conducting much of the rescue with little equipment, highlighting the lack of safety measures at Sudan’s widespread informal mines. The incident followed another collapse in South Kordofan the previous week that killed at least 82 people. Artisanal gold mining employs millions of Sudanese and remains economically important, while gold smuggling has also helped finance the war between Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces.