At least 60 killed in gold mine collapse in Sudan’s West Kordofan
At least 60 killed in gold mine collapse in Sudan’s West Kordofan. Skip to content Menu Home | At least 60 killed in gold mine collapse in Sudan’s West Kordofan Image Credits : Reuters Reuters 16 September 2026, 12:34 [SAST] At least 60 people were killed in a gold mine collapse in Sudan’s West Kordofan state on Sunday, three local sources told Reuters, while a local rights group said some miners could still be alive underground and appealed for urgent rescue efforts.
What happened
The Kordofan Observatory monitoring group said on Wednesday that more than 70 artisanal miners were dead or missing after a series of adjoining mining shafts collapsed at the al-Zara mine in the Fouja area, northwest of al-Nuhud. Image source, ReutersImage caption, Locals said 10 families had been living in the building despite warnings that it was unsafeByYolande Knell, Middle East correspondent, Reporting fromJerusalem and David GrittenPublished16 September 2026, 08:58 BSTUpdated 2 minutes agoAt least 20 people have been killed, including five children, and dozens are missing after a war-damaged building collapsed in the Gaza Strip, according to rescue teams.
Sudan is one of Africa’s largest gold producers, but the vast majority of its gold is produced through dangerous artisanal mining and later smuggled out of the country. Mrakic also warned that approximately 400 other war-damaged buildings across Gaza were at imminent risk of collapse, particularly as winter approaches. On Tuesday, Israeli air strikes killed at least five Palestinians, including two children and a Hamas commander, according to health officials and Hamas sources. Gold mining is a key source of revenue for the paramilitary RSF, who control the state
It said no specialised rescue teams had intervened and fragile, sandy ground was hampering residents’ attempts to rescue miners and recover bodies using basic tools.
The wider picture
However, at one point it collapsed entirely, tragically crashing down on people as they slept. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it killed a Hamas commander in southern Gaza and another fighter in the north. In both cases, a child was also reportedly killed. Separately, the British charity Medical Aid for Palestinians said that a patient was killed by an Israeli drone at a health centre it supports in Jabalia in northern Gaza. The Gaza war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
Since then, more than 73,790 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN. Related topicsIsrael-Gaza warPalestinian territoriesGazaMore on this storyMore than 900 killed in Gaza this year despite ceasefire, Hamas-run health ministry saysPublished2 SeptemberIsrael says Hamas security chief captured as strikes kill four during Gaza raidPublished1 SeptemberBoard of Peace's Gaza envoy criticises Israeli strikes and Hamas actionsPublished27 August Citing eyewitness accounts, the group said a survivor emerged on Tuesday and reported that others were still alive underground.
What has been reported
The three local sources, speaking to Reuters on Wednesday, attributed the high death toll at the remote site to a lack of safety procedures and rescue equipment. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Videos showed the search for bodies and survivors continuing in the rubble of the six-storey building in the Tal al-Hawa area of Gaza City. Locals said some 10 families had been living in the apartments despite warnings that they were unsafe.
Members of the Hamas-run Civil Defence rescue service said they had initially been working with "empty hands" due to tight Israeli restrictions on equipment allowed into Gaza. However, they have since been able to borrow some heavy machinery from UN agencies and Egyptian relief workers. "We are still hearing voices from under the rubble, so there is still hope to find people," said Raed al-Dahshan, the director of the Civil Defence in Gaza City. He added: "The limited availability of shelter options forced residents to move into this building, believing it was safe.
What happens next
"Image source, ReutersImage caption, Rescuers had to dig with their bare hands before the UN and an Egyptian relief agency brought machineryThe head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Gaza office, Alessandro Mrakic, told reporters at the scene that between 70 and 100 people were believed to be trapped under the rubble. "The situation, as you see, is tragic because we don't have the equipment and machinery that is needed. There are actually people digging with their bare hands," he said.
"We need support, most importantly with machinery, equipment, among others. Our colleagues here don't have [engine] oil and spare parts to continue to work with all the equipment that is still in Gaza. "The UN's humanitarian relief co-ordinator, Ramiz Alakbarov, also called on Israeli authorities to approve deliveries of heavy machinery for rescue operations, as well as tents, tarpaulins and other non-food items for displaced people ahead of the winter rains. 2 million people in Gaza are currently living in tents or makeshift sheltersAn estimated 80% of all structures in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged during the war between Israel and Hamas, according to the UN.
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across sabcnews.com, bbc.co.uk. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.