The key facts

  • At least 14 people died and seven were injured in the collapse of an illegal gold mine in Nariño, Colombia.
  • The search for survivors has ended; rescue efforts were complicated by hard-to-reach terrain and the presence of armed groups.
  • A similar incident already occurred in Colombia in August, claiming 13 lives.

Mine Collapse and Death Toll

At least 14 people died and seven more miners were injured when an illegal gold mine collapsed in the municipality of Santa Bárbara in the department of Nariño, in southwestern Colombia. According to local media, a rockfall (landslide) occurred during gold mining, leaving miners trapped under the rubble. The revised death toll was announced by Nariño's secretary of peace and security, Alexis González, on the Caracol TV channel, adding that the search for survivors has ended.

Rescue Efforts

After the incident, local residents and rescue teams began helping the victims and pulling people out from under the rubble. According to Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), local residents and rescuers took part in the operation to recover the dead and injured. According to the governor's office, rescue teams had difficulty reaching the site due to difficult terrain and the presence of criminal groups. Videos circulated on social media showing people and an excavator carrying bodies from the mine to canoes on a nearby river.

Authorities' Response and Context

Nariño Governor Luis Alfonso Escobar expressed condolences to the families of the victims and stressed the importance of protecting people's lives in emergencies and supporting affected families. According to euronews, Nariño is a region bordering Ecuador where illegal gold mining is widespread: armed groups control the underground gold trade and are also involved in drug trafficking and extortion. Residents of the municipality reported targeted killings by armed groups of people suspected of cooperating with security forces, rival organizations, or stealing gold. A source in the governor's office told AFP: 'The communities have no economic alternatives other than these extremely risky activities. Traditional small-scale mining has practically disappeared.' Mine accidents occur frequently in Colombia, especially at unregulated sites: in August, a similar incident in the country claimed 13 lives.