MEDELLÍN, Colombia (BN24) — Eighteen Colombian gold miners trapped underground for nearly 18 hours were safely rescued early Friday morning after emergency crews worked through the night to reach them. The miners had been stuck inside the El Minón mine, located in the Antioquia region’s Remedios municipality, following an equipment failure that led to a structural collapse, officials said.
Colombia’s National Mining Agency (ANM) confirmed that all the miners were brought to the surface alive and in good health following a complex rescue operation that lasted about 12 hours. Footage from the scene showed emotional reunions, with fellow miners cheering and clapping as their colleagues emerged one by one from the narrow mine shaft.
The incident began Thursday afternoon when a mechanical failure caused a collapse in a key support structure designed to prevent landslides within the mine, said Yarley Erasmo Marin, a local mining association leader, speaking to AFP. The collapse blocked the main exit, trapping the workers deep underground with limited air and light.
Oxygen was supplied through hoses during the ordeal, according to reports from local radio station ABC, which helped sustain the miners as crews drilled and cleared debris to reach them.
Energy Minister Andrés Camacho announced the successful rescue on social media just after 3:00 a.m. local time Friday, praising the efforts of emergency responders and calling the operation a “testament to the courage and resilience of Colombian workers.”
However, questions are emerging over the legality of the El Minón mine. In a letter to national authorities, the mayor of Remedios said the mine appeared to be operating without official permits. The ANM echoed that concern, urging mining communities to avoid unlicensed operations, which it said pose “serious risks to human life, the environment, and the nation’s resources.”
Mining accidents are a recurring issue in Colombia, where both legal and illegal mining operations are widespread. Dozens of fatalities have been recorded in recent years, often due to lax safety standards or unregulated practices in remote regions.
While this latest incident ended without loss of life, it has reignited debates about mining oversight, worker safety, and the ongoing dangers associated with unauthorized mining operations in the country’s resource-rich northwest.
bbc.com
