At least 15 people were killed and one other injured after a collapse at a gold mine in northern Sudan that had previously been closed over safety concerns.

According to the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC), the collapse occurred at the Mohamed Tawfiq Gold Mine in the Samna area of Wadi Halfa locality in Northern State.

The company said emergency teams were dispatched to the site following the incident, while local authorities and Civil Defense rescue teams continued search and recovery operations. The injured miner was taken to hospital for treatment.

Preliminary findings indicated that the accident occurred after a number of artisanal miners entered the site despite repeated warnings that the mine had been declared unsafe following technical assessments.

SMRC said its Environment and Occupational Safety Department had previously suspended operations at the mine because of the risk of collapse and had issued clear warnings prohibiting access to the site. The bodies of the victims were later handed over to their families after the necessary procedures were completed.

Sudan is one of Africa's leading gold producers, with artisanal mining accounting for a large share of the country's gold output. However, the sector has long been plagued by fatal accidents as miners often continue working at abandoned or unsafe sites despite official warnings. (ILKHA)