ABU HAMAD, Sudan — A drone strike hit a power station in Abu Hamad in northern Sudan's River Nile state early Sunday, November 1, 2026, igniting widespread fires and triggering a series of loud explosions that rattled the surrounding region.
According to local witnesses, the attack struck the power facility located approximately 334 miles (538 kilometers) north of the capital, Khartoum. Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple loud blasts before thick smoke and intense flames engulfed major parts of the station. Social media videos shared by local activists showed large fires blazing inside the facility as emergency teams worked to contain the scene.
The Abu Hamad strike marks the 12th power station targeted by drone attacks across six Sudanese states since early last week. The sustained air campaign has disrupted critical electrical infrastructure across Khartoum, Gezira, Sennar, Gedaref, River Nile, and Red Sea states, triggering rolling blackouts and damaging control networks.
Sunday's bombardment followed a separate drone attack just a day prior targeting the Hayya power station in Red Sea state, a facility currently under construction. Authorities have not yet released an official statement regarding the full extent of the structural damage or casualties from the Abu Hamad incident.
The deliberate targeting of energy infrastructure comes amid the ongoing military conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023. Legal observers and international humanitarian groups have strongly condemned the recurring attacks on civilian utilities, warning that knocking transformer stations offline severely threatens hospital operations, water treatment systems, and basic public services.
As the dry season progresses, humanitarian officials caution that continued damage to power grids will further deepen the severe humanitarian and hunger crisis affecting millions of displaced residents across the nation.
In response to the widespread blackouts, local emergency response units have begun prioritizing generator fuel distribution to essential facilities, particularly regional hospitals and water pumping stations. Meanwhile, regional authorities are urging international technical aid agencies to help secure critical electrical components, warning that prolonged power outages during peak heat could trigger severe secondary health crises and further destabilize humanitarian relief operations throughout the state.
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