Situation in Port Sudan After Renewed Drone Attacks

Sudan Events – Agencies

For the third consecutive day, drones have targeted the city of Port Sudan and some of its vital facilities. Residents have been waking up to the sounds of loud explosions coming from the targeted areas, causing fear and confusion among the population.

On the first day, drones targeted Port Sudan Airport and the Osman Digna base at the airport, prompting the Civil Aviation Authority to issue a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), suspending flights at Port Sudan International Airport until 5 PM that day. Operations later resumed as normal.

The following day, drones targeted strategic warehouses in Port Sudan, located in the Red Sea State. The Ministry of Energy and Oil announced in an official statement that the largest warehouse in the state had been hit, and fires continued burning there until the next day.

Missile, Not a Drone
Residents of Port Sudan woke up early Tuesday to a massive explosion heard across the city. Eyewitnesses reported that the Marina Hotel in the city center was among the targets, with fires also breaking out in warehouses near the southern port.

Port Sudan Airport was also targeted for the second time. The Civil Aviation Authority issued another NOTAM, suspending all incoming and outgoing flights from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Ashraf Mohamed Ali, general manager of Marina Hotel, told Al Jazeera Net in an exclusive statement that the hotel was hit by a missile at 5 AM, which landed in the main lobby. No casualties were reported. Ashraf confirmed that “Marina Hotel is a civilian facility owned by a private individual with no ties to any security or military institution.” He expressed his astonishment at the targeting, saying the hotel hosts guests of various nationalities.

Ashraf added that the hotel has 114 rooms and is the largest in the city. It also includes meeting halls used by companies for various events. “Guests were terrified,” he said, noting that security forces responded quickly and that the situation is now under control.

Some guests left their rooms due to shattered exterior glass caused by the missile strike. He mentioned that the exact extent of the damage is still being assessed but noted broken windows and damage to the main lobby.

Despite the attack, the hotel is now operating normally with its full staff and continues to serve its guests.

Economic Losses in Sudan
In a statement to Al Jazeera Net, economic expert Mohamed El-Nair said that accurately estimating the damage caused by the drone attacks on service facilities is currently difficult. It requires joint and specialized committees. He emphasized that the attacks have a clear impact on citizens’ lives and on basic services, which in turn affects life in general.

El-Nair explained that the airport and ports are lifelines for the Sudanese economy and are critical and vital, making their protection essential. He added that rehabilitating the targeted facilities will take considerable time and resources, but noted that Sudan has become accustomed to dealing with war-related issues over time.

Service Stability
The Sudanese Electricity Company released a statement saying that drones targeted the Port Sudan transformer station on Tuesday morning, causing a complete power outage. The company noted that such attacks negatively affect essential services such as water and health.

The Ministry of Energy and Oil stated that losses have not yet been calculated and promised to release information once it becomes available.

Sudanese Minister of Information and official government spokesperson Khaled Al-Ayser, in a brief statement following a field visit to the fuel depots at the southern port of Port Sudan, said that “civil defense forces and all security agencies are performing their duties to the fullest.”

In a press statement, the Ministry of Energy and Oil reassured citizens that petroleum product supplies are stable and available at all fuel service stations. This came after many stations witnessed unprecedented crowding and long queues as people rushed to secure fuel.

Mohamed, a rickshaw (tuk-tuk) driver in Port Sudan, said: “People are creating crises themselves by crowding unnecessarily at fuel and service stations.”

On Tuesday morning, long lines and congestion were seen at fuel stations across Port Sudan after reports emerged of a targeted fuel depot. There was also significant overcrowding at some cooking gas distribution centers, following news of the drone strikes on city depots.

Citizen Mohamed believes that the rush at fuel and gas stations is unwarranted, as life continues normally in the city’s markets and surrounding areas. He said the crowding only creates a crisis where none exists.

For the third consecutive day, Port Sudan has witnessed drone attacks targeting vital facilities, including Port Sudan International Airport, strategic fuel depots, and the Port Sudan transformer station.

Source: Al Jazeera Net