No fewer than nine miners have been confirmed dead following a deadly explosion at a coal mine in central Colombia, authorities said on Monday.
The incident occurred in Sutatausa, a municipality located about 72 kilometres north of the capital, Bogotá.
According to the country’s National Mining Agency, six miners were rescued alive after the blast, while nine others lost their lives.
In a statement, the agency described the incident as an emergency situation, noting that rescue efforts were carried out after reports that several workers were trapped underground.
The Governor of Cundinamarca Department, Jorge Emilio Rey, said preliminary findings indicated that the explosion was likely caused by a buildup of gases within the mine.
“The explosion was apparently due to a buildup of gases,” Rey stated, adding earlier that at least 12 miners had initially been trapped, while three managed to escape before rescue teams arrived.
Emergency responders were deployed to the scene, with ambulances stationed at the mine’s entrance as authorities assessed gas levels to ensure safe rescue operations.
Mining accidents remain a recurring challenge in Colombia, often linked to inadequate ventilation systems and unsafe practices. While illegal mining sites are frequently blamed for such incidents, Monday’s explosion occurred at a legally operating mine.
