At least 10 people have died and 21 others were injured following a collapse at a gold mine in northern Sudan, according to survivors involved in rescue efforts. The incident occurred overnight on Saturday in the Awy mining area near Sudan’s border with Egypt.

Survivors reported that rescue operations have primarily been carried out by miners themselves, often with limited equipment. Authorities and those at the site fear there may be more casualties still trapped beneath the rubble, with the search for additional survivors ongoing.

The mine collapse comes amid continued conflict in Sudan, where fighting between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has been ongoing since April 2023. Both sides have reportedly relied heavily on the country’s gold trade, valued in the billions of dollars, as a source of funding alongside backing from foreign entities.

Artisanal and small-scale mining makes up the bulk of Sudan’s gold extraction, particularly in unofficial zones or abandoned mines. Heavy involvement in this sector reflects the difficult economic conditions facing many Sudanese, with over two million people estimated to be employed in artisanal mining before the conflict escalated. Many young workers engage in hazardous mining activities with minimal protective gear, using basic tools and often exposed to chemical hazards. Collapses and other accidents in these poorly regulated mines are frequent.

The recent disaster in the north follows a similar incident last week in the southern Kordofan region, where at least 82 people died and dozens more were injured after a mine collapse. Such tragedies highlight the ongoing risks for miners operating under precarious conditions.

Sudan is one of Africa’s largest gold producers, recording a peak production of 70 tonnes last year, the highest in five years according to government figures. However, officials note that a significant portion of the mined gold is smuggled out of the country through neighboring Chad and South Sudan, complicating efforts to regulate and profit from the trade fully.

The impacts of conflict, economic hardship, and unregulated mining contribute to the high human toll among those seeking livelihood in Sudan’s gold sector, underscoring broader challenges facing the nation amid ongoing instability.