Village wiped out by landslide in Sudan, 100 bodies recovered from rubble

A catastrophic landslide has destroyed the village of Tarasin in Sudan’s Marrah Mountains, killing an estimated 1,000 people. The disaster struck after days of heavy rainfall, devastating the remote northeastern African region already struggling with civil war and famine.

The village, located more than 900 kilometers west of Sudan’s capital Khartoum, was virtually wiped off the map, with only one survivor reported by the Sudan Liberation Movement-Army (SLM-A), a rebel group controlling the area, Caliber.Az reports via Associate Press. 

SLM-A spokesman Mohamed Abdel-Rahman al-Nair confirmed that rescue teams have recovered about 100 bodies, but many more remain missing.

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, Luca Renda, cited local sources estimating between 300 and 1,000 lives lost in the disaster. The Marrah Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its volcanic terrain and towering summit of nearly 3,000 meters, are difficult to access, complicating relief and recovery efforts.

On August 31, severe flooding destroyed 100 houses in Sofia village, South Darfur province, according to the International Organization for Migration. Sudan, a country of over 50 million people, faces recurring natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, which has intensified seasonal rains and flooding, often with deadly consequences.

The ongoing civil war and historical conflicts, including the 2011 secession that created South Sudan, have left many regions vulnerable and struggling to respond to such crises, further deepening the humanitarian challenges faced by the nation.

By Sabina Mammadli