Over 1,000 Killed in Deadly Landslide in Sudan’s Marra Mountains
A devastating landslide in Sudan’s remote Marra Mountains has killed at least 1,000 people, leaving only one known survivor, according to a statement from the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A).
Triggered by days of heavy rainfall, the landslide struck on Sunday and completely leveled the village of Tarasin in western Sudan, wiping out homes and burying families under mud and debris. The armed group, which controls the area, described the scale of destruction as catastrophic and issued an urgent plea for humanitarian aid from the United Nations and other international relief agencies.
Calls for Emergency Aid
North Darfur’s governor, Minni Minnawi, who is aligned with the Sudanese army, called the disaster a “humanitarian tragedy.” He urged global organizations to intervene immediately, stressing that the disaster is too great for the local population to handle alone.
Photos from the scene show deep gullies carved into the mountainside, converging at the location where the once-thriving village stood.
Conflict-Driven Displacement
Many of Tarasin’s residents had already fled their homes in North Darfur due to the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Seeking safety in the Marra Mountains, these displaced families instead found themselves at the center of another tragedy.
Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, Sudan has faced famine, mass displacement, and widespread violence. A U.S. official previously estimated that up to 150,000 people have been killed since the fighting began, while around 12 million civilians have been forced from their homes, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Rising Tensions in Darfur
The SLM/A faction, which controls parts of the Marra Mountains, has vowed to side with the Sudanese army against the RSF. Locals accuse the RSF and allied militias of attempting to forcibly transform Darfur into an Arab-dominated region, raising fears of ethnic cleansing and genocide.
The deadly landslide now adds yet another layer of suffering to the war-torn region, where families are grappling with displacement, famine, and violence on top of natural disaster.