Gold Mine Collapse in Colombia Kills at Least Six
An open pit gold mine collapsed in southwestern Colombia, killing at least six miners and leaving an estimated 12 to 15 others missing.
At least six miners died Monday when an open pit gold mine collapsed in a remote part of Colombia’s Nariño province, authorities reported. The accident occurred in the municipality of Santa Barbara de Iscuande.
Jorge Tovar Castillo, a disaster response official for Nariño, stated that between 12 and 15 miners are still unaccounted for. Municipal authorities are leading the response efforts, though communication has been challenging due to the area's remote location.
Santa Barbara de Iscuande is situated in dense rainforest and is only accessible by boat or small aircraft. Governor Luis Alfonso Escobar of Nariño noted on social media platform X that the collapsed mine was an informal operation. Hundreds of small mines in Colombia operate without official permits, and some are reportedly controlled by rebel groups.
"At this moment our priority is to save lives, accompany families and guarantee an opportune response to this painful tragedy," Escobar wrote.
The region also faces security concerns, with reports of two rebel groups operating in the vicinity. One of these groups is the Jacobo Arenas Block, comprised of former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who did not join the 2016 peace agreement with the government.
Colombia's Ombudsman's Office issued a statement on X urging armed groups in the area to permit humanitarian aid to reach Santa Barbara de Iscuande, emphasizing that all efforts should focus on life-saving and emergency response.