Dangerous Landslide in Sudan Kills 1000 People with Only One Survivor
- A catastrophic landslide has devastated the village of Tarseen in Sudan’s Marra Mountains, killing at least 1000 people and leaving only one known survivor
- The disaster struck a region already overwhelmed by civil war and mass displacement, compounding an escalating humanitarian crisis
- Aid efforts face severe logistical challenges as international organisations race to respond amid treacherous terrain and ongoing conflict
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A devastating landslide in Sudan’s remote Marra Mountains has claimed the lives of at least 1000 people, according to a senior United Nations official.
Antoine Gérard, the UN’s deputy humanitarian co-ordinator for Sudan, told the BBC that the true scale of the disaster remained unclear due to the region’s inaccessibility.
Source: Getty Images
The landslide, triggered by days of heavy rainfall, struck the village of Tarseen on Sunday, reportedly leaving only one survivor.
The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), which controls the affected area, stated that the death toll could be as high as 1,000 and described the village as having been “levelled”.
Humanitarian aid faces major challenges
Mr Gérard warned that delivering aid to the disaster zone would be extremely difficult.
“We do not have helicopters, everything goes in vehicles on very bumpy roads,” he said. “It takes time and it is the rainy season – sometimes we have to wait hours, maybe a day or two to cross a valley… bringing in trucks with commodities will be a challenge.”
The SLM/A has appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance from the UN and other international organisations. Darfur’s army-aligned governor, Minni Minnawi, echoed the call, describing the landslide as a “humanitarian tragedy”.
In a statement quoted by AFP, Minnawi urged global agencies to “urgently intervene and provide support and assistance at this critical moment, for the tragedy is greater than what our people can bear alone.”
Landslide victims were already displaced by war
Many of the victims had previously fled to the Marra Mountains from North Darfur, seeking refuge from the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has plunged Sudan into famine and led to widespread accusations of genocide in Darfur.
Estimates of the war’s death toll vary, but a US official last year suggested that up to 150,000 people may have been killed since the fighting began. The humanitarian fallout has been catastrophic, with approximately 12 million people displaced from their homes.
Sudan: Political tensions complicate relief efforts
Factions of the SLM/A have pledged to support the Sudanese military against the RSF, further complicating the political landscape in the region. Many Darfuris believe that the RSF and allied militias are attempting to transform the ethnically diverse region into an Arab-ruled domain.
Images from the disaster site show two deep gullies on the mountainside converging at the location where the village of Tarseen once stood, depicting the scale of destruction.
Source: AFP
Nigerian airplane crash-lands at international airport
Legit.ng earlier reported that a Max Air flight from Lagos crash-landed at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Tuesday at 10:57 p.m.
A passenger confirmed that the aircraft lost its nose landing gear tyre upon touchdown, causing it to burst into flames before the plane skidded to a stop.
According to Dailytrust, emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, and all passengers were safely evacuated. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
