More than 1,000 people have died in a massive landslide that completely destroyed a village in the Darfur region of Sudan, authorities confirmed on Monday. The disaster struck the village of Tarasin in Central Darfur following several days of heavy rainfall in the Jebel Marra mountain range. The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), which controls the area, reported that only one person survived the disaster. The group’s spokesperson stated that the entire village had been “completely wiped out,” with homes, schools, and infrastructure buried beneath the landslide.
Local leaders are calling for immediate international assistance to help recover the bodies and support the affected region. The area impacted by the landslide is situated in a remote part of Central Darfur, over 900 kilometers west of the capital Khartoum. Poor road access and ongoing conflict have significantly hindered rescue and recovery efforts. The terrain in the Jebel Marra Mountains is difficult to navigate, with aid workers and residents reporting that the village could only be reached by foot or donkey.
The Sudanese Sovereign Council acknowledged the disaster in a public statement, expressing condolences for the loss of life and pledging to deploy available national resources to respond to the emergency. Government officials are working with humanitarian organizations to coordinate the delivery of aid, although access remains severely limited due to infrastructure damage and insecurity in the region. The African Union has urged Sudanese authorities and armed factions to facilitate humanitarian access by halting hostilities and ensuring safe passage for aid convoys. In recent years, several humanitarian organizations have flagged Darfur, and particularly the Marrah Mountains, as areas largely inaccessible due to conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
Death toll rises as Sudan landslide levels entire village
Many communities in the region have become isolated from basic services and emergency relief. Eyewitnesses from nearby villages said the disaster occurred after prolonged rainfall caused a section of the mountainside to collapse, engulfing Tarasin in mud and debris. No survivors have been reported beyond the one individual rescued. The exact number of people missing remains unclear, but local authorities estimate that more than 1,000 residents were buried under the landslide.
Heavy seasonal rains have caused recurring flooding and landslides in Sudan in recent years, though the scale of the Tarasin disaster marks one of the deadliest single incidents involving a natural hazard in the country’s recent history. The Sudanese Red Crescent Society and international relief agencies are preparing to deploy assessment teams once access routes are secured. Sudan remains in the grip of a major humanitarian crisis stemming from internal conflict that erupted in April 2023.
Sudan conflict zones face compounding disasters
Fighting between rival military factions has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions. The situation has exacerbated food insecurity, disrupted healthcare services, and left many parts of the country vulnerable to environmental disasters. With communications down in much of the affected area and infrastructure in disrepair, accurate information continues to be difficult to obtain. Relief organizations are urging immediate support for affected communities and calling for sustained international engagement to prevent further loss of life in remote regions facing compounding crises.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is closely monitoring the situation and has reiterated its urgent appeal for unimpeded humanitarian access to all conflict-affected regions of Sudan, including Darfur. Search and recovery operations are expected to continue over the coming days, as weather conditions stabilize and security conditions allow entry into the devastated area. Authorities and humanitarian agencies emphasize the need for sustained international support to ensure timely aid delivery and prevent further loss of life. – By Content Syndication Services.