A catastrophic landslide has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people in the village of Tarasin, located in Sudan’s South Darfur region, following days of intense rainfall. The disaster struck on August 31, flattening the entire community in the Marra Mountains, according to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM), which controls the area.
Initial reports indicate that only one person survived the landslide, which buried homes and farmland under tons of debris. The SLM described the event as “massive and devastating,” and has appealed to the United Nations and international humanitarian organisations for urgent assistance in recovering victims and supporting displaced families.
The tragedy unfolds amid Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has severely restricted access to affected regions and hampered relief efforts. Much of Darfur remains inaccessible to aid agencies, compounding the humanitarian crisis already affecting millions across the country.
Local officials have called the landslide a “humanitarian tragedy beyond the region’s capacity,” urging global intervention to address both immediate needs and long-term recovery.
Sudan regions map. English version picture by Peter Fitzgerald
