Colombia: 13 dead in illegal gold mine collapse
Another seven people were injured and all those missing have been accounted for. Accidents at unregulated mines are fairly common in Colombia.
A landslide at an illegal gold mine in Colombia claimed at least 13 lives and left seven others injured, according to local authorities. The landslide in Policarpa, located in the southwestern Narino region, occurred after improper ore extraction weakened the mine's foundation, causing a collapse. Regional government secretary Fredy Gamez stated that the slope gave way, burying the individuals.
Initial reports dismissed an explosion as the cause, though gas buildup is a frequent contributor to such accidents. Rescue operations, including firefighters, excavators, and local residents, persisted until around 2 a.m. on Thursday, confirming that all missing individuals had been located. Illegal gold mines in Colombia frequently result in disasters, often triggered by explosions due to gas accumulation.
In a similar incident at a gold mine in Marmato earlier in the month, 19 people were injured. Additionally, in May, nine workers tragically lost their lives in a coal mine explosion near Bogota. Criminal organizations frequently operate illegal mines in regions like Narino to finance their illicit activities. To support reliable reporting, readers are encouraged to designate the outlet as their preferred source on Google.
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