- Airstrike killed 72 artisanal gold miners near Sudan-Egypt border.
- Incident occurred in Border Triangle Area, 28 others wounded.
- Egyptian authorities previously warned miners to evacuate the area.
An airstrike killed at least 72 artisanal miners in a border area between Sudan and Egypt where artisanal and small gold mining is widespread, a medical group said on Sunday. The strike Saturday in the Border Triangle Area between Sudan, Egypt killed more than 70 people and Libya also wounded at least 28 others, according to the Sudan Doctors Network, which tracks the conflict in Sudan.
Who was behind the deadliest airstrike?
It wasn't immediately clear who was behind the strike but news agency AFP reported at least 72 were killed in the deadly airstrikes. The network, however, said the miners were repeatedly warned by Egyptian authorities to evacuate the area, which is reportedly part of Egypt.
ALSO READ: Mali Gold Mine Collapse: Over 40 Killed As Women Dig For Gold In China-Run Abandoned Pits
Gold has played a central part in the war in Sudan, with the insurgent paramilitary Rapid Support Forces smuggling out thousands of tons of gold from the Darfur and Kordofan regions to fund themselves.
"Unknown aircraft"
Abdel-Aziz Yousef, a survivor, told The Associated Press that an unknown aircraft struck an artisanal gold mine in a mountainous area Saturday morning. He said that many people were killed or wounded, and others fled the area for fear of further strikes.
The medical group said the death toll is likely to increase given that some of the wounded have suffered from serious injuries and limited access to healthcare facilities.
In June, Egyptian security forces detained hundreds of people, including foreigners, on the border with Sudan, accusing them of illegal gold mining and smuggling.
More than 50 per cent of gold mined in Sudan was smuggled out of the country, according to a United Nations Panel of Experts Report in 2024.