At least 13 workers killed in landslide at Colombian gold mine
Four members of an indigenous family are among the dead, witnesses said.
A landslide at an unauthorized gold mine in southern Colombia has claimed the lives of at least 13 workers and left seven others injured, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at an open-air artisanal mine in Policarpa, located in the country's south. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion just before the collapse, which trapped the workers below. Emergency responders, aided by locals and digging equipment, were able to recover the bodies.
Among the 13 fatalities, four were members of the same indigenous family, witnesses stated. Residents of the area indicated that approximately 50 individuals, predominantly from the Quillacinga indigenous group, regularly worked at the mine near Policarpa in southern Nariño province.
Fatal accidents are a recurring issue in Colombia, particularly in unlicensed mining operations where individuals extract precious metals without official regulation. It is estimated that between 200,000 and 400,000 people are involved in artisanal mining in Colombia, with many families depending on the income from selling the precious metals and stones they discover to sustain themselves.