Catastrophic Landslide Results in Significant Loss of Life in Sudan

A devastating landslide has obliterated the village of Tarseen in the Marra Mountains of Sudan, leaving approximately 1,000 people dead as of September 1, 2025.

In the district of Darfur, western Sudan, local organizations report a tragic landslide that wiped out Tarseen village, resulting in up to 1,000 fatalities. This catastrophe affected many individuals who had already been displaced due to the ongoing civil war, having sought refuge in this locality from the severe conflict in Sudan.

The disaster struck suddenly in the Jebel Marra region, an area under the influence of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Army (SLM-A). According to the organization, torrential rains led to the destruction of the entire village, leaving very few survivors to tell the tale.

Recently, Jebel Marra witnessed an influx in its population as thousands fled the violent siege of El Fasher, Darfur's historic capital, which had been under attack by paramilitary forces opposing the Sudanese army. People have migrated from overcrowded places like the Zamzam camp, where scarcity had led to a famine declaration last year.

The SLM-A has kept a neutral stance amid the conflict, providing a rare sanctuary for those seeking refuge. The broader Darfur area, largely under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied Arab militias, faces accusations of attempted ethnic cleansing by numerous international bodies including the U.N. and the U.S.

Earlier in April, RSF forces took over Zamzam, Sudan’s largest displacement camp, with over half a million residents, resulting in numerous deaths, including among international aid workers. This forced many residents to flee to more isolated regions such as Jebel Marra, where logistical challenges and severe weather conditions make relief efforts nearly impossible.

Humanitarian workers have raised alarms about the dire conditions, particularly for children who are perishing from starvation daily. Both the Sudanese military and the RSF stand accused of impairing humanitarian interventions, exacerbating the already critical situation.

Sudan’s army maintains dominance over much of the nation, including Khartoum, the capital city. Meanwhile, the RSF, which holds most of Darfur except El Fasher, saw its leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, taking an oath as the head of a rival government body viewed as illegitimate by the U.S. and other countries.

The prolonged conflict has generated an immense humanitarian crisis, coupled with unprecedented famine levels not seen in recent history. Although precise casualty figures remain elusive, U.S. estimations from last year suggest that the conflict may have claimed upwards of 150,000 lives since its inception over two years ago.