South kordofan: Six people were killed and 12 were injured, with dozens still missing, when a gold mine collapsed in South Kordofan in southern Sudan, the Sudan Doctors Network said late Friday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the NGO stated, “A gold mine collapse in Abu Jubaiha has killed 6 miners and injured 12 others. The fate of dozens remains unknown, as they were trapped under the rubble at the time of this statement.” The organization has called for intensified rescue efforts and urgent medical assistance for the injured.

The Sudan Doctors Network also urged the government to implement measures to protect miners. This includes setting safety standards, providing training, and conducting regular oversight to prevent the recurrence of such disasters. The network emphasized that institutional negligence and failure to enforce laws put miners’ lives at risk.

The organization further called for holding those responsible accountable and advocated for practical steps to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Small-scale gold mining, which employs more than 2 million people across Sudan, often occurs under extremely harsh conditions and produces about 80% of the country’s total gold output.

Although the Sudanese government does not prohibit artisanal mining, it aims to regulate the sector. Despite its challenges, small-scale mining provides employment to a large number of Sudanese and contributes to job creation. Sudan relies heavily on gold as a major source of foreign currency after losing three-quarters of its oil revenues following the 2011 secession of South Sudan, which also resulted in the loss of 80% of the country’s foreign currency resources.