A rockfall at Egypt’s largest gold mine killed one worker and injured five others on Sunday, officials said, prompting the suspension of operations in the affected area pending an investigation.
The accident happened inside a tunnel in an underground section of the Sukari gold mine, located in Egypt’s eastern desert region, according to a statement from the petroleum ministry.
Response and investigation
The injured workers were taken to a hospital in the Red Sea resort town of Marsa Alam. The ministry said initial medical assessments showed their conditions were stable.
Petroleum Minister Karim Badawy has ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the incident, determine its cause, review the mine’s health and safety procedures, and recommend measures to prevent similar accidents.
About the Sukari Mine
Located roughly 30 kilometres (19 miles) southwest of Marsa Alam, the Sukari mine is operated by Sukari Gold Mines Company, a joint venture between the Egyptian government and AngloGold Ashanti, which took over the mine’s previous operator, Centamin, in 2024.
The mine produces around 500,000 ounces of gold annually and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars each year to Egypt’s economy. It’s widely seen as a flagship project in the government’s push to expand mining and attract foreign investment.
Mining accidents remain relatively rare in Egypt, where large-scale modern mining activity is concentrated almost entirely at Sukari.