Tragic Landslide Claims Hundreds in Sudan's Marra Mountains

Mon Sep 15 2025 14:57:32 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A landslide in western Sudan has devastated the village of Tarseen, resulting in a staggering death toll and calls for urgent humanitarian assistance.

In a tragic event, a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in the Marra Mountains of Sudan has led to the deaths of at least 370 people, with estimates potentially rising to 1,000. This disaster has compounded an already dire humanitarian crisis exacerbated by ongoing conflict in the region. The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army has appealed for international aid as rescue efforts face significant hurdles.

A landslide has killed at least 370 people in the remote Marra Mountains in western Sudan, a UN official has reported.

Antoine Gérard, the UN's deputy humanitarian co-ordinator for Sudan, indicated that the exact scale of the incident was difficult to assess due to inaccessibility to the affected area. The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), which controls the region, suggests the death toll could reach as high as 1,000.

The landslide occurred on Sunday after several days of heavy rain, reportedly leveling much of the village of Tarseen and resulting in only one survivor.

The SLM/A is now calling for urgent humanitarian assistance from the UN and other organizations, acknowledging the challenges in delivering aid owing to the difficult terrain and ongoing rainy season.

Mr. Gérard explained, We do not have helicopters; everything must travel by vehicle on very bumpy roads. It can take a long time to arrive, as sometimes we have to wait for hours to safely cross valleys. The situation is further complicated by the displacement of many residents who had sought refuge in this mountainous region due to conflicts in North Darfur.

Darfur's governor, Minni Minnawi, described the landslide as a humanitarian tragedy, emphasizing the urgent need for international support. Additionally, the head of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, urged the conflicting parties to assist in ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Photographs of the disaster reveal gullies leading down to the site of the village, emphasizing the severity of the geological event amidst the ongoing civil strife that began in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Death toll estimates from the civil war suggest that up to 150,000 people may have perished, with 12 million displaced from their homes, intensifying the region's need for humanitarian aid and support as conditions continue to deteriorate.