Landslide in Darfur’s Marrah Mountains Claims Over 1,000 Lives

CAIRO, Sept. 2, 2025 - A catastrophic landslide struck the remote village of Tarasin in Sudan’s Central Darfur region on Sunday, leveling the settlement and leaving more than 1,000 people dead, according to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), which controls the area. Only one resident survived the disaster, the rebel group said in a statement, appealing for urgent assistance from the United Nations and international aid organizations.

Heavy rains over several days triggered the landslide, which swept through the village in the rugged Marrah Mountains. Tarasin had become a refuge for families displaced by the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Humanitarian access to the region is severely restricted by fighting and siege conditions, complicating rescue and recovery efforts.

Khartoum’s Sovereign Council expressed condolences for “hundreds of innocent residents” killed in the tragedy and stated that “all possible capabilities” were being mobilized to support search operations. However, aid agencies have reported that the Marrah Mountains remain largely inaccessible, with survivors lacking adequate food, medicine, and shelter.

The landslide is one of the deadliest natural disasters in Sudan’s recent history, compounding a humanitarian crisis that has displaced millions since the conflict erupted in April 2023. Médecins Sans Frontières warned in July that communities in the Marrah Mountains were in “extremely dire” conditions amid famine and isolation.

• Associated Press and The New York Times contributed reporting