A catastrophic landslide in Sudan’s Central Darfur has killed over 1,000 people and obliterated an entire village following days of torrential rain.

At a Glance

• A landslide on August 31, 2025, struck Tarasin village in the Marrah (Jebel Marra) Mountains, killing more than 1,000 residents and leaving only one survivor.
• The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM-A), which controls the area, issued appeals to the United Nations and international aid groups for urgent assistance.
• Rescue efforts are severely hampered by the region’s remote, rugged terrain and ongoing civil conflict in Darfur.
• Darfur has become a refuge for displaced people fleeing conflict, compounding the region’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters.
• If confirmed, the death toll would mark one of the deadliest natural disasters in Sudan’s recent history.

Background and Disaster

On August 31, 2025, after days of relentless heavy rainfall, a massive landslide struck Tarasin, a village nestled in Sudan’s central Marrah Mountains in Darfur. According to the SLM-A, the disaster “completely leveled the village,” and the estimated death toll exceeds 1,000, with only a single known survivor. These figures remain unverified due to restricted access into the war-torn area. The region’s governor, Minni Minnawi, called the event a “humanitarian tragedy.”

Watch now: Landslide kills more than 1,000 in Sudan’s Darfur region, armed group says

Humanitarian Response and Challenges

The SLM-A has urgently appealed to the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations for assistance in recovering victims and responding to the disaster. However, efforts have been hindered by the remote volcanic terrain, where access is possible only on foot or using donkeys, and further complicated by ongoing civil conflict, especially between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The Marrah Mountains, a UNESCO-listed region, have become a sanctuary for people displaced by Darfur’s civil war, turning what should be a refuge into a death trap amid climate shocks. The disaster underscores how the overlap of environmental hazards and violent conflict continues to devastate Darfur’s most vulnerable populations.

Wider Implications

If confirmed, the death toll could rank among Sudan’s deadliest natural disasters in recent memory. The SLM-A’s appeal comes amid a broader period of crisis: Darfur has seen severe famine, displacement numbering in the millions, and widespread infrastructure collapse.

The calamity also foreshadows the growing dangers posed by climate extremes in regions already destabilized by war. It raises urgent questions about the sustainability of humanitarian access and modes of aid delivery in remote conflict zones.

Sources

Associated Press
Al Jazeera
Agence France-Presse via Reuters