Sudan Landslide Destroys Village Hundreds Feared Dead
Sudan Village Wiped Out in Deadly Landslide, Only One Survivor Found
Darfur, Sudan – A devastating landslide in the mountainous Jebel Marra region has destroyed the village of Tarseen, leaving only one known survivor, according to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A).
The group, which administers parts of Jebel Marra, appealed to the United Nations and international aid agencies to help recover bodies and provide urgent assistance. Victims reportedly include men, women, and children.
“Tarseen, once known for its citrus orchards, has been completely levelled,” the SLM/A said in a statement, adding that continuous rainfall is hampering travel and could delay rescue efforts.
SLM/A leader Abdelwahid Mohamed Nur warned that nearby communities fear a similar tragedy if torrential rains continue, stressing the urgent need for evacuations and emergency shelters.
Hundreds Feared Dead
The U.N. resident coordinator cited local reports putting the death toll between 300 and 1,000. Only nine bodies have been recovered so far, according to Abdelhafiz Ali of the Jebel Marra Emergency Room. He noted that the village had also been sheltering families displaced by earlier fighting.
Aid workers say access to the site is almost impossible. Arjimand Hussain of Plan International reported that the last 45 kilometers of the road are impassable to vehicles and can only be crossed on foot or by donkey.
Crisis Amid Civil War
The disaster comes as Sudan’s civil war, now in its second year, continues to devastate the country. The SLM/A has remained neutral in the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who are battling for control of al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur. The city is under siege and facing famine.
Thousands have fled al-Fashir and surrounding areas to Jebel Marra in search of safety, but food, medicine, and shelter remain scarce. In Tawila, where many displaced people have arrived, cholera outbreaks are worsening an already dire situation.
Across Sudan, more than half the population faces hunger, and millions have been displaced, leaving them dangerously exposed to the country’s seasonal floods.
Condolences and Aid Pledges
Sudan’s army-backed government expressed condolences and offered assistance, while the RSF-controlled rival administration, led by Prime Minister Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi, said it would coordinate with the SLM/A to deliver aid.
Pope Leo also extended condolences and prayers for the victims, according to a Vatican statement.
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