Landslide destroys Sudanese village, kills about 1,000 in Darfur region

A devastating landslide has ruined the village of Tarasin in Sudan’s Darfur region, killing an estimated 1,000 people in what is feared to be one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country’s recent history.

The landslide struck on Sunday after days of heavy rainfall in the Marrah Mountains, a remote volcanic range in Central Darfur. According to the Sudan Liberation Movement-Army (SLM-A), only one person is believed to have survived the disaster.

Authorities retrieved footage that captures scenes of an entire community, unfortunately reduced to rubble, as survivors search desperately for bodies. The SLM-A has called for urgent international assistance, citing the country’s ongoing conflict as a reason for the severe hampering of relief efforts.

Sudan is not new to civil wars. The country had been gripped by a brutal civil war since April 2023. These horrifying incidents have led to 40,000 lives lost and the displacement of millions.

Much of Darfur remains cut off from aid. Humanitarian groups, including Doctors Without Borders, have warned of a complete collapse in relief operations, with some communities reportedly forced to eat grass to survive.

The Marrah Mountains, long considered a refuge for families fleeing violence, are now the scene of unimaginable loss.

The United Nations has described Sudan as facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. With the destruction in Tarasin, the suffering of millions in the war-torn country has deepened, as nature adds another layer of tragedy to an already dire situation.