Southwala Shorts
- Sudan has been struck by one of its deadliest natural disasters in recent memory.
- On Sunday, the village of Tarsin in the central Jebel Marra region was completely wiped out after heavy rains triggered massive landslides.
- Local authorities confirmed that nearly all of the village’s residents, estimated at more than 1,000 people, were killed.
- Only one survivor has been reported.
Sudan has been struck by one of its deadliest natural disasters in recent memory. On Sunday, the village of Tarsin in the central Jebel Marra region was completely wiped out after heavy rains triggered massive landslides. Local authorities confirmed that nearly all of the village’s residents, estimated at more than 1,000 people, were killed. Only one survivor has been reported.
Walls of Mud and Stone
The landslides followed a week of relentless rains at the end of August. The saturated slopes of Jebel Marra gave way, sending torrents of mud and rock crashing down onto homes and farmland. Villagers had little warning. Entire families were buried inside their houses, leaving behind no chance of escape. Eyewitnesses described the scene as “a mountain swallowing a village.”
Officials from the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdul Wahid, announced that Tarsin no longer exists as a functioning settlement. Houses, crops, and roads were swept away, leaving only rubble under layers of earth. The Civil Authority in the region called the event “a human and environmental catastrophe,” as it not only erased lives but also destroyed the means of survival for nearby communities.
Rescue Efforts Face Impossible Odds
Local volunteers attempted to dig through the mud with basic tools, but the scale of the disaster overwhelmed them. Without proper machinery, recovery was slow and painful. The one known survivor was pulled out after hours of desperate effort. Humanitarian agencies are expected to respond, but access to Jebel Marra remains difficult due to its rugged terrain and limited infrastructure.
A Disaster on Top of Crisis
Sudan is already facing conflict, economic hardship, and food insecurity. The destruction of Tarsin village adds another layer of tragedy to a region that has endured decades of instability. For the people of Darfur, the landslide is not just a natural disaster. It is a reminder of how vulnerable entire communities remain when nature strikes with full force.
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