Al-YURAE – Local and international calls have intensified in Sudan for stricter oversight of unregulated mining activities following the collapse of the “Karsh Al-Feel” mine in the Howeid area in the northeast of the country. The incident resulted in a large number of casualties, with conflicting official and unofficial reports regarding the number of deaths and injuries. The Sudanese Mineral Resources Company announced that 11 people were killed and 7 injured, while independent sources indicated that the actual death toll could exceed fifty.
The incident has brought renewed attention to the dangers associated with traditional mining. Official and popular bodies have called for an urgent and independent investigation to determine the causes of the collapse and those responsible. They also stressed the need to strengthen oversight and strictly enforce occupational safety standards at mining sites, especially those previously identified as hazardous. Labor unions and community organizations emphasized the importance of reviewing the status of abandoned or unlicensed mines and taking immediate measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The Sudanese Mineral Resources Company clarified that it had previously halted operations at the accident site and warned against continuing work there due to the significant risk to lives. The company confirmed that it dispatched a field team to assess the situation in coordination with local authorities. On the other hand, advocacy groups accused the Ministry of Minerals and the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company of failing to provide adequate safety teams and ignoring regulations related to drilling methods and equipment, particularly the use of explosives in unregulated mining.
It is worth noting that the traditional mining sector in Sudan is highly active, employing around two million people and serving as a major source of income amid the ongoing economic crisis. However, weak oversight and the lack of safety standards have led to repeated fatal accidents in this sector.
