13 Workers Killed, Seven Injured in Landslide at Unlicensed Colombian Gold Mine

At least 13 workers have been killed and seven others injured after a landslide struck an unlicensed artisanal gold mine in southern Colombia.

The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at an open-air mine near Policarpa, in Nariño province, where local residents regularly work in search of gold.

Witnesses said they heard what sounded like an explosion shortly before the workers underground were trapped.

However, a local official said the collapse was caused by mining activities at the site.

Emergency responders were deployed to the mine and used excavators to reach the affected workers and recover the bodies of those who died.

Residents said about 50 people, many of them members of the Quillacinga indigenous community, regularly worked at the mine.

The tragedy has highlighted the dangers faced by workers in Colombia’s informal mining sector, where unlicensed operations often take place without the safety standards and oversight required at regulated mines.

Witnesses said four of the 13 people who died belonged to the same indigenous family, further deepening the impact of the disaster on the local community.

Artisanal mining remains an important source of income for thousands of families across Colombia. An estimated 200,000 to 400,000 people are involved in artisanal mining in the country, with many depending on the sale of gold and other precious metals and stones to support their families.

Deadly accidents are relatively common at unlicensed mines, where workers often operate in difficult and hazardous conditions without adequate safety measures.

Authorities are expected to continue assessing the circumstances surrounding the collapse and the safety of mining operations in the area.