Five killed as truck carrying smuggled mining explosives blows up in Kassala

May 19 Kassala- At least five people were killed on Monday when a truck and a box vehicle carrying smuggled explosives used in artisanal gold mining detonated in the Abu Talha area, west of Kassala city in eastern Sudan, the state government announced.

The blasts, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, triggered widespread alarm among residents. Videos circulating on social media shortly afterwards showed a destroyed truck and box vehicle alongside a number of dead livestock near the site of the explosion.

The Kassala State Security Committee said in a statement that security services moved immediately to the scene, where field inspections confirmed that the explosion was caused by smuggled mining explosives being transported in the truck. Livestock found in the vehicle are believed to have been used as cover to conceal the illicit cargo.

The statement said the incident resulted in “the deaths of five people and the loss of a number of livestock.”

Workers in Sudan’s artisanal mining sector sometimes resort to smuggling chemicals and explosives used to blast rock and extract minerals. Such materials are subject to oversight by the relevant authorities, which issue permits for some substances while prohibiting others due to the security and environmental risks they pose.

The Security Committee urged citizens and media outlets to verify information carefully and avoid spreading rumours, warning that unverified reports risk causing unnecessary panic. It said it would continue to monitor the incident and handle it “with full transparency” in order to preserve security and stability in the state.