At least 13 dead in Colombia illegal gold mine collapse

Sharjah 24 – AFP: At least 13 people were killed and seven others injured after an illegal gold mine collapsed in southwestern Colombia, a government official said Thursday.

Latest Details

The incident occurred Wednesday night in Nariño department, where a section of the mine collapsed onto workers, according to local authorities.Mining accidents are common in Colombia, particularly at unregulated sites.

While explosions caused by accumulated gases are a frequent cause of such incidents, authorities ruled out a blast in this case.A source from the Nariño governor’s office attributed the collapse to improper ore extraction, which weakened the mine’s base.Rescue operations have been complicated by unstable ground, while images from the site showed heavy machinery operating on steep terrain.Nariño, which borders Ecuador, is a major hub for illegal mining.

Armed groups are involved in the illicit gold trade in the region, alongside drug trafficking and extortion.