A massive landslide in the remote Marra Mountains of western Sudan has left at least 370 people dead, according to United Nations officials. The disaster struck on Sunday after several days of heavy rainfall triggered widespread soil collapse. Rescue efforts remain difficult as the area is hard to reach, making it challenging to determine the full scale of the tragedy.
Antoine Gérard, the UN's deputy humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, confirmed that the numbers could still rise. "It is hard to assess the scale of the incident or the exact death toll as the area is very difficult to access," Gérard explained. With roads damaged and communication lines down, relief teams are struggling to reach the affected village.
The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), which controls the area, suggested the real death toll might be much higher. The group claimed that nearly 1,000 people may have lost their lives, with only one survivor reportedly found in the devastated village of Tarseen. Entire families are feared buried under rubble.
The SLM/A has urgently appealed to the United Nations, regional partners, and international aid groups to deliver emergency assistance. However, logistics remain a serious challenge. "We do not have helicopters, and most transport depends on vehicles moving through bumpy, flooded roads," Gérard noted.
Darfur's governor, Minni Minnawi, described the event as a "humanitarian tragedy" and called for swift global intervention. He stressed that local communities cannot bear the scale of this disaster alone.
African Union Commission head Mahmoud Ali Youssouf also urged Sudan's warring sides to halt fighting and prioritize relief. He called for unity, emphasizing that saving lives must come before conflict.
Source: (https://saharareporters.com/2025/09/02/massive-landslide-sudan-kills-least-370-persons-survivors-appeal-aid)