Six Killed in Gold Mine Collapse in Red Sea State

Port Sudan, April 14, 2026 - At least six people have died after the collapse of an informal gold mine in Sudan’s Red Sea State, underscoring persistent safety risks in the country’s largely unregulated artisanal mining sector. The incident occurred on Wednesday at a mining site in the Keliti area of the Ganab and Aulib locality, where the mine reportedly caved in while workers were underground, trapping several miners. Local sources said rescue teams have recovered six bodies so far, but recovery operations are being hampered by a lack of heavy equipment, limited civil defense capacity, and inadequate emergency medical supplies. Eyewitnesses described the situation at the site as critical, with delays in access to ambulances and basic first aid resources. The collapse adds to a growing number of similar accidents in Sudan’s informal mining industry, where safety regulations remain minimal or poorly enforced. Since the outbreak of conflict in 2023, artisanal mining has expanded significantly across the country. The sector is now estimated to employ more than two million people and accounts for over 80% of Sudan’s gold production, making it both a crucial economic lifeline and a major source of occupational risk.