Abu Jubaiha, January 12 (Darfur24)
At least ten artisanal miners were killed, and dozens remain unaccounted for on Saturday following the collapse of five gold mining wells in the Um Fakroun area of Abu Jubaiha locality, South Kordofan State.
Um Fakroun lies northeast of the Tartar region and is known for intensive artisanal gold mining activity.
Mohammed Al-Khair Adel, a traditional miner, told Darfur24 that the collapse occurred suddenly while workers were inside the wells, burying many under rubble and triggering panic at the site.
He said rescue efforts remain rudimentary, relying mainly on fellow miners using basic tools, due to the absence of heavy machinery needed to clear debris and reach those trapped.
Large crowds of residents and co-workers gathered at the site as fears grew that the death toll could rise, amid high temperatures, a lack of ambulances, and difficulty accessing injured or trapped miners.
An employee of the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company told Darfur24 that a company team had arrived at the site to investigate the incident and assess conditions on the ground. He acknowledged the absence of excavators and heavy equipment, which has severely hampered rescue operations.
The official warned that delays in reaching those trapped could increase human losses, noting that artisanal mining in the region suffers from weak safety standards and limited technical oversight, making collapse accidents frequent.
Approximately two million people work in artisanal mining in Sudan, producing about 83 percent of the country’s total gold output.