Sudan Gold Mine Collapse Leaves 15 Miners Dead in Northern State

WADI HALFA, July 6, 2026 - Fifteen gold miners were killed and another injured after a mine collapsed in Sudan’s Northern State, marking the latest in a series of deadly accidents affecting the country’s artisanal mining sector. The collapse occurred at the Mohamed Towfik gold mine in the Samna area of Wadi Halfa locality, where emergency teams were deployed to recover victims and assist with rescue operations. Authorities said the operation involved coordination between mineral security forces, mining police, rescue teams, and local government officials. A technical team was also sent to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident and assess safety conditions at the site. Initial findings indicated that the miners entered the mine despite an earlier closure order issued by the Environment and Safety Department after technical inspections identified risks of collapse. Authorities said the decision to close the site had been taken to protect workers’ lives, but some miners reportedly ignored the warnings. The latest incident adds to a growing number of deadly mining accidents across Sudan, including a similar collapse in Red Sea State earlier this year that killed several artisanal miners. Sudan’s artisanal gold mining sector employs more than two million people, a figure that has increased since the outbreak of war in April 2023. The sector contributes more than 80% of the country’s gold production, with many miners operating in remote areas under dangerous working conditions. Authorities have repeatedly announced plans to reorganize traditional mining activities, improve safety standards, and prevent unauthorized operations in high-risk areas to protect miners from further tragedies.