At least 13 workers were killed and seven injured in a landslide at an unlicensed gold mine in southern Colombia, according to local officials. The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon when witnesses reported hearing an explosion at the open-air artisanal mine, moments before workers were trapped by the subsequent landslide.
Emergency services and local residents worked to recover the bodies, with the aid of excavators. Four members of the same indigenous family were among those who died, witnesses stated. Approximately 50 people, many from the Quillacinga indigenous group, are reported to have worked regularly at the mine near Policarpa in Nariño province.
Deadly accidents are a recurring issue in Colombia, particularly in unlicensed mines where individuals extract precious metals and stones without official supervision. An estimated 200,000 to 400,000 people in Colombia engage in artisanal mining, with many families depending on the income generated to support themselves.