One worker died and five others were injured after a tunnel collapse in Egypt’s largest gold mine. Authorities announced on Sunday that operations at the mine have been suspended pending the outcome of an investigation.
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According to a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum, the incident occurred in an underground tunnel at the Sukari gold mine, located in the southeast of the most populous Arab nation.
The five injured were transported for treatment to a hospital in Marsa Alam, on the Red Sea. The ministry reported that their condition is stable.
Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi ordered the formation of a commission to determine the causes of the collapse and propose measures to prevent similar accidents, the ministry statement said.
The mine is located about 30 kilometers southwest of Marsa Alam and is managed by a company established as a joint venture between the Egyptian government and AngloGold Ashanti. The latter bought Centamin, which previously operated the mine, in 2024.
Sukari produces approximately 500,000 ounces of gold annually, and its annual contribution to Egypt’s economy amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars.
The mine is also considered an important project for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government, which aims to expand the mining sector and attract foreign investors.
Accidents in Egyptian mines are considered relatively rare, especially in this gold mine where modern technology is utilized.
