An explosion inside a coal mine in central Colombia, triggered by a buildup of gases, killed nine laborers on Monday, according to the mining authority’s final toll.
Mining accidents in Colombia are common and often fatal, particularly in illicit or improvised mines.
Monday’s event occurred at a lawfully operated mine in the Sutatausa municipality, 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Bogota.
According to a statement from the National Mining Agency, six miners were rescued and nine died “following an emergency at a mine in Sutatausa, Cundinamarca.”
Cundinamarca Governor Jorge Emilio Rey told X that the explosion was “apparently due to a buildup of gases.”
The governor originally stated that 12 persons were trapped and three had escaped.
Rescue workers were on their way to the scene, he claimed, uploading photos of ambulances at the mine’s entrance.
Authorities were checking gas levels in the mine before launching rescue operations, he said.
Poor ventilation is a common cause of mining accidents in Colombia.
There are also illegal mines in the region where Monday’s event occurred that do not fulfill safety regulations.
