A devastating landslide in Sudan has left hundreds dead and an entire village buried under rubble, according to reports from the United Nations and local authorities. The disaster struck the remote village of Tarasin in the Marrah Mountains of Central Darfur after days of relentless heavy rainfall weakened the steep volcanic slopes. The force of the slide flattened homes, uprooted trees, and left the community almost completely erased from the map.
While the UN has confirmed at least 370 fatalities, local rebel groups controlling the area report that more than 1,000 people may have been killed, with only one survivor pulled from the debris. Humanitarian agencies warn that the final death toll could climb significantly as rescue efforts remain hindered by dangerous terrain, damaged roads, and the ongoing civil conflict that has gripped Sudan.
Access to the site has proven extremely difficult. Aid workers describe treacherous dirt tracks turned into rivers of mud, with trucks struggling to carry supplies and emergency teams unable to reach survivors quickly. The United Nations’ deputy humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Antoine Gérard, noted that the lack of helicopters and the challenges of transporting food, medical supplies, and rescue equipment overland make relief operations slow and uncertain.
The humanitarian crisis is further compounded by the war between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces, which has already displaced millions and devastated infrastructure across Darfur. Communities in the Marrah Mountains have long been isolated, with little access to medical services or aid, and this disaster has deepened their vulnerability. Médecins Sans Frontières has warned that many families have been left without food, shelter, or healthcare, raising fears of further loss of life in the coming days.
Local leaders have called for urgent international intervention. Darfur’s governor, Minni Minnawi, described the tragedy as “unprecedented” and pleaded for global assistance to recover bodies and support survivors. Witnesses from neighboring villages spoke of entire families vanishing under the landslide, leaving behind nothing but silence where once a community thrived.
This catastrophe stands as one of the deadliest natural disasters in Sudan’s recent history, serving as a stark reminder of how environmental hazards and human conflict combine to create staggering human loss. As the international community grapples with how to respond, those in the devastated mountains of Darfur are left clinging to hope that help will come before the rains bring further destruction.
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