5 miners killed in gold mine collapse in eastern Sudan, medics say

Five miners were killed in a gold mine collapse in eastern Sudan, a medical group said Wednesday, as efforts continue to rescue more than 25 people trapped underground.

The Sudan Doctors Network said the collapse occurred at a site in the Keliti area, located in the Ganab and Aulib in the Red Sea State.

Rescue teams have recovered five bodies and transported several injured people to Port Sudan for treatment, according to the group.

“Efforts are ongoing to recover and rescue more than 25 people trapped inside wells at great depths, amid a clear shortage of rescue and emergency equipment,” the network added.

The group described the incident as the second such collapse in four months, calling it a “dangerous indicator” of negligence in safety measures.

It urged authorities to urgently intervene to save those still trapped and to provide full support to rescue teams to prevent further loss of life.

Authorities did not immediately comment on the incident.

In January, six people were killed and 12 injured in a gold mine collapse in South Kordofan state in western Sudan.

Artisanal mining employs more than 2 million people in Sudan under harsh conditions and accounts for about 80% of the country’s gold production.

While the government does not ban informal mining, it seeks to regulate the sector, which provides jobs for many Sudanese despite its risks.

*Writing by Lina Altawell