The remote village of Tarasin in Sudan’s volatile Marra Mountains was obliterated in a catastrophic landslide that has left hundreds dead and only one reported survivor, according to local reports and UN officials, as The Independent reports.

A deadly landslide struck a hard-to-reach area in western Darfur’s Marra Mountains, leveling the village of Tarasin, killing at least 370 people, and trapping aid crews behind terrain and conflict challenges.

The disaster began unfolding on Sunday after prolonged heavy rain pounded the mountainous region of western Darfur. According to the United Nations, at least 370 people were confirmed dead, though local rebel groups fear the actual toll may exceed 1,000. The village, nestled in one of the most inaccessible parts of the Marra Mountains, was wiped from the map -- leaving rescue efforts nearly impossible as access routes remain impassable.

The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), the rebel group controlling the area, issued a statement saying the village was “completely leveled to the ground” and that initial findings indicated all its residents—more than 1,000 individuals -- were likely killed. Only one resident is believed to have survived the catastrophe. The SLM has maintained control over parts of the Marra Mountains and is one of several armed groups intertwined in Sudan’s long-running civil war.

Antoine Gerard, the deputy humanitarian coordinator for the UN in Sudan, emphasized how the disaster was compounded by the nearly impossible terrain and ongoing conflict. In comments shared with the BBC, he described the agonizing delays in navigating muddy, poorly maintained routes: “We do not have helicopters,” he said. “Everything goes in vehicles on very bumpy roads.”

Harsh weather, continued conflict slow rescue efforts

Gerard further explained that rain and broken infrastructure could force aid convoys to delay “hours, maybe a day or two” crossing a single valley. This has left lifesaving food, water, and medical aid stuck en route -- in a region already burdened by instability and displacement. "Bringing in trucks with commodities will be a challenge," he warned.

Darfur’s governor, Minni Minnawi, called the calamity a “humanitarian tragedy” and appealed for immediate support from the international community. Speaking to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Minnawi urged emergency agencies to rush in with support, in a region already destabilized by civil war and famine. “The tragedy is greater than what our people can bear alone,” he said.

The Marra Mountains have seen increased population density in recent years, as families displaced by the civil war sought safety in its rugged terrain. But the very isolation that made these mountains a refuge has now turned them into a deathtrap—with natural disasters compounded by man-made chaos.

War casts shadow over recovery work

Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by a brutal civil war between the country’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. This ongoing battle has killed an estimated 150,000 people and displaced 12 million, according to U.S. estimates reported by the BBC. The war has ravaged Darfur, rendering regions like the Marra Mountains nearly unreachable for both the UN and local organizations.

With infrastructure virtually destroyed and armed factions dividing the territory, aid groups have struggled to maintain a humanitarian presence. Certain groups within the SLM support the government’s military efforts, adding further layers of tension as international workers attempt to navigate the local landscape.

Villages like Tarasin, already on the brink due to years of fighting and economic hardship, have little to no disaster preparedness resources. The lack of emergency communications, poor medical access, and no established evacuation infrastructure left hundreds vulnerable as torrential rain weakened the terrain.

Entire village feared lost

The exact moment the landslide struck is still unclear, but its aftermath has become stark. Eyewitness accounts remain scarce, as the only survivor has not been publicly identified or interviewed. The UN continues to rely on SLM communications and satellite imagery to assess destruction levels.

Limited cellphone coverage in the area and ongoing fighting further complicate tracking accurate fatality counts or needs assessments. Tarasin’s tragedy remains largely unphotographed and underreported—but humanitarian officials warn this is likely one of the deadliest yet least visible disasters Sudan has seen during its most recent wave of conflict.

UN officials and journalists say this is unlikely to be the last disaster of its kind in Darfur if weather patterns worsen during the rainy season. The lack of climate resilience planning in conflict zones such as the Marra Mountains exposes tens of thousands more to similar risks in the weeks ahead.

Lessons to learn

1. Remote regions need emergency infrastructure: In times of crisis, time is everything. Emergency aid routes must be planned long before disaster strikes. When roads vanish in mudslides or collapse in warzones, help may never reach victims without alternative plans.

2. Preventative systems must be prioritized: Mapping vulnerable regions, training local search-and-rescue teams, and setting up early alert systems might reduce casualties. In Tarasin, none of those systems were in place -- leaving an entire population unaware and unprotected.

3. Displacement adds extra vulnerabilities: Conflict displaces communities into unsafe terrains, which often lack proper shelter or environmental protections. While no victim should ever be blamed, understanding how compounded vulnerabilities work can drive better policy decisions that prevent future tragedies.

Why this story matters

This story highlights how natural disasters in war-torn areas can turn already dire humanitarian situations into catastrophic death tolls. It sheds light on the forgotten corners of Sudan, where isolation, displacement, and neglect fatally intertwine. At a time when global attention is spread thin, Tarasin serves as a grim reminder of why sustained humanitarian assistance and civil infrastructure matter -- especially for communities cut off by both man and nature.

As international attention wanes, Sudan's internal crises keep escalating in a deadly spiral. The landslide tragedy reveals how overlapping emergencies can make the most vulnerable the least likely to survive. It draws urgent focus to the need for tangible support, not just promises, in zones beyond the media spotlight.