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# Ninety-two people die in a week of Sudan mine collapses
- URL: https://www.bushletter.com/sudan-mine-collapses-kill-92-in-five-days/
- Published: 2026-09-27T21:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-01T01:31:23.000Z
- Description: At least 82 workers died at the al-Zaraa site in West Kordofan on 16 September, and a second cave-in near the Egyptian border claimed 10 more lives four days later.
- Author: Editor
- Tags: News

![Caleb Reed](https://res.cloudinary.com/dz77sb7j1/image/upload/v1774262572/bushletter/authors/caleb-reed.png)

By **Caleb Reed** · 2026-09-24

TLDR

Two artisanal gold mine collapses in Sudan killed at least 92 people in five days, exposing the lethal conditions of a wartime gold rush. Hand-dug, unshored shafts and collapsed state oversight have turned informal mining into one of the country's deadliest industries.

## Two collapses, 92 dead

At least 82 people died when the al-Zaraa gold mine near en-Nahud, in West Kordofan, collapsed on 16 September 2026.[\[1\]](https://apnews.com/article/sudan-gold-mine-collapse-6a6f5bc2c2f847c16f8a4f8f422c6a82?ref=bushletter.com) Survivor Khairal-Sayed Gabara said rescuers were overwhelmed by the scale. "The collapse is massive and the situation is very dire," Gabara said.[\[1\]](https://apnews.com/article/sudan-gold-mine-collapse-6a6f5bc2c2f847c16f8a4f8f422c6a82?ref=bushletter.com)

Four days later, shafts at the Awny mining area near Sudan's border with Egypt caved in, killing at least 10 people and injuring 21 more.[\[2\]](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/22/deadly-hazards-behind-sudan-gold-mine-collapse-a-wartime-desperation?ref=bushletter.com) A survivor at the site said 10 bodies had been recovered and 21 injured miners pulled out.[\[5\]](https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5320516-sudan-gold-mine-collapse-kills-10-injures-21-survivors-3002443?ref=bushletter.com)

## War economy underground

Sudan's conflict between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, which began in April 2023, fractured state institutions and drove millions toward artisanal gold mining as formal employment collapsed. Artisanal mining accounts for 30 per cent of Sudan's gold output, with mines controlled by armed actors and operating without modern safety measures.[\[3\]](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?l=en&s=s/2024/65&t=pdf&ref=bushletter.com)

The shafts are hand-dug and unshored, with no rescue equipment on site and no regulatory body left to enforce standards. Most gold previously exported to the United Arab Emirates through Port Sudan now moves through informal channels into Egypt, financing armed groups on both sides of the conflict.[\[3\]](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?l=en&s=s/2024/65&t=pdf&ref=bushletter.com)

Shortages of state-distributed mercury and cyanide since April 2023 have pushed miners to exchange gold directly for chemicals at unregulated border markets.[\[4\]](https://sudantransparency.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GoldSectorEN.pdf?ref=bushletter.com) Sourcing processing chemicals through those informal networks removes the last trace of oversight from an already unregulated industry.

Rescue operations at both sites continued into the week of 22 September 2026.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

01At least 82 people died when the al-Zaraa gold mine near en-Nahud collapsed on 16 September 2026.

02Ten more were killed and 21 injured at the Awny mining area near the Egyptian border four days later.

03Artisanal mining produces 30 per cent of Sudan's gold output, all without modern safety measures.

04Gold smuggled through Egypt now finances armed groups on both sides of the civil war.

05Cyanide shortages since April 2023 force miners to source chemicals through unregulated border markets.

SOURCES & CITATIONS

1. [Sudan gold mine collapse kills at least 82 (AP)](https://apnews.com/article/sudan-gold-mine-collapse-6a6f5bc2c2f847c16f8a4f8f422c6a82?ref=bushletter.com)
2. [Deadly hazards behind Sudan gold mine collapse (Al Jazeera)](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/22/deadly-hazards-behind-sudan-gold-mine-collapse-a-wartime-desperation?ref=bushletter.com)
3. [UN Security Council Report S/2024/65](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?l=en&s=s/2024/65&t=pdf&ref=bushletter.com)
4. [Sudan Gold Sector Report (Sudan Transparency Initiative)](https://sudantransparency.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GoldSectorEN.pdf?ref=bushletter.com)
5. [Sudan gold mine collapse kills 10, injures 21 (Asharq Al-Awsat)](https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5320516-sudan-gold-mine-collapse-kills-10-injures-21-survivors-3002443?ref=bushletter.com)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where did the deadlier of the two Sudan mine collapses occur?

The al-Zaraa gold mine near en-Nahud in West Kordofan collapsed on 16 September 2026, killing at least 82 people.

Why are so many Sudanese mining gold in dangerous informal pits?

The civil war that began in April 2023 collapsed formal employment and state institutions, pushing millions into artisanal gold mining as one of the few remaining sources of income.

How does Sudan's informal gold trade fund the war?

According to a UN Security Council report, gold that was previously exported through official channels to the UAE now moves through informal Egyptian smuggling networks, with proceeds financing armed groups on both sides of the conflict.

![Caleb Reed](https://res.cloudinary.com/dz77sb7j1/image/upload/v1774262572/bushletter/authors/caleb-reed.png)

[Caleb Reed](https://bushletter.com/author/caleb-reed/?ref=bushletter.com)

Caleb Reed covers breaking news and sport. He works to the rhythm of a story as it unfolds, and he is happiest when the facts arrive faster than anyone can spin them.