Gold mine shaft collapse kills 11 in Sudan; second disaster in week

A gold mine shaft caved in without warning in Sudan's northeastern region on Tuesday, triggering a humanitarian crisis at the site as rescue teams scrambled to locate survivors and retrieve bodies from the rubble.

The collapse resulted in the deaths of at least 11 miners, according to preliminary reports. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with authorities reporting that more than 30 workers sustained injuries in the accident. A number of individuals remain unaccounted for, prompting intensified efforts to locate them amid concerns about conditions in the mine.

The disaster underscores the dangerous working conditions endemic to Sudan's informal and formal mining sectors. It comes just days after another major mining incident in the same region, raising fresh alarm about safety standards and oversight in the country's extraction industries.

Sudanese authorities have not yet released detailed statements regarding the cause of the collapse or the mining operation's compliance with safety regulations. International organizations monitoring workplace safety in the region have increasingly expressed concerns about the lack of adequate protective measures and infrastructure at many mining sites across Sudan.