An illegal gold mine collapsed in southwestern Colombia, killing at least 14 people and injuring seven. The disaster has renewed calls for stronger mining regulation and safer working conditions.
BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA — WEB DESK: At least 14 people have died and seven others have been injured after an illegal gold mine collapsed in southwestern Colombia, prompting renewed calls for stronger oversight of small-scale mining and safer working conditions.
The collapse occurred in the rural Chambero sector of Santa Bárbara de Iscuandé municipality in Nariño province, an isolated region where difficult terrain can complicate emergency operations, according to local authorities.
Nariño Governor Luis Alfonso Escobar said search and rescue operations had been completed. Authorities have not publicly established all the circumstances that led to the collapse.
Remote location complicates emergency response
Santa Bárbara de Iscuandé is surrounded by dense rainforest and is accessible primarily by boat or small aircraf.
The remoteness of the area can make it difficult to move emergency personnel, equipment and medical assistance to affected communities. Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office called for support to help evacuate injured people, activate medical services and ensure the dignified handling of victims’ remains.
The office also warned that the presence of illegal armed groups in the wider area could complicate humanitarian operations and called for safe passage for rescue teams and aid workers.
Authorities urged to strengthen mining regulation
The collapse has renewed concern over the dangers associated with informal and unauthorised gold mining, where safety infrastructure and regulatory oversight may be inadequate.
Escobar urged the national government, the National Mining Agency and the Ministry of Mines and Energy to accelerate efforts to bring informal and small-scale mining operations into the formal regulatory system.
Formalisation could help improve oversight, working conditions and safety standards, although the precise cause of this particular collapse remains to be established.
Another deadly mining accident in Nariño
The latest disaster follows another fatal mining accident in Nariño province in August, when 13 people died in a collapse in the municipality of Policarpa.
The two incidents underline the continuing dangers facing workers in mining operations across the region. They also place pressure on authorities to improve safety monitoring and enforcement while addressing the challenges faced by small-scale miners.
