A massive landslide triggered by heavy rainfall has buried the entire village of Tarsin in the Jebel Marra mountains of western Sudan. The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) reported that the disaster could have claimed as many as 1,000 lives. According to the UN’s local coordinator, the death toll is estimated to be between 300 and 1,000. So far, volunteers have managed to recover only nine bodies.

SLM/A leader Abdelwahid Mohammed al-Nur has appealed to the international community for urgent aid. He warned that continuous heavy rains could trigger further landslides, leaving nearby villages at risk. He called for immediate rescue operations, the establishment of shelters, and evacuation plans for those in danger.

Tarsin, once known for its citrus production, has been completely destroyed. The flooding has made travel in the area nearly impossible, further complicating rescue and relief efforts. Arzmand Hussein, a regional officer with Plan International, said the last 45 kilometers leading to Tarsin are impassable by vehicles, with access possible only on foot or by donkey.

The disaster comes at a time when Sudan is already reeling from two years of civil war. The army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are locked in a battle for control of the capital, El-Fashir. The conflict has caused famine, displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and forced many to seek refuge in Jebel Marra, where shortages of food, shelter, and medicine are already dire. In addition, a cholera outbreak has been reported in the Tawila region.

The army-controlled government has expressed deep sorrow and pledged to provide assistance. Meanwhile, Mohammed Hassan al-Taishi, prime minister of the RSF-backed administration, said he would coordinate with the SLM/A to send relief aid. From the Vatican, Pope Francis offered prayers and condolences for the victims.

The Tarsin landslide has deepened Sudan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, where war, famine, and natural disasters are converging to devastate lives across the country.