Landslide in Sudan’s Marra Mountains Levels Village and Claims Hundreds of Lives

On August 31, 2025, a massive landslide struck the village of Tarseen in Sudan’s Marra Mountains, western Darfur. Triggered by days of heavy rainfall, the slide buried nearly the entire settlement. Local authorities, supported by the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), reported that more than 1,000 residents may have been killed, with only one survivor identified. Independent sources, including UN officials, confirmed at least 370 deaths while acknowledging that the true toll could be significantly higher. The landslide completely leveled the village, leaving a flattened zone between steep mountain ridges.

Search and recovery efforts have been hampered by extremely limited resources. With no machinery available, villagers and local responders have been excavating by hand to retrieve bodies. Save the Children reported that at least 373 bodies had been recovered, including many children, while dozens of mass graves have already been dug. The UN and humanitarian agencies are attempting to deliver tents, medical supplies, and food, but access to the site has proven difficult. Teams have faced rough terrain, washed-out tracks, and ongoing rainfall.

The landslide coincides with Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which has displaced millions and severely constrained humanitarian operations. Many families had fled to the Marra Mountains for safety from the fighting, increasing population density in high-risk areas. With continuing rain and unstable slopes, the risk of additional slope failures remains present. International organizations, including the African Union and the UN, have urged warring parties to allow aid to reach the area. Engineering assessments and hazard mapping will be vital in reducing future risks, especially in mountainous terrain where rainfall-induced slope failures are recurrent.

Check out the following video for more information on the deadly Sudan Landslide.