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Eighteen workers trapped for approximately 18 hours in a gold mine in north-western Colombia have been successfully rescued, the Colombian government has confirmed.
The miners were stranded in the El Minón mine in the Antioquia region due to an equipment failure that caused a structural collapse, blocking the main exit, according to local reports. The rescue operation, which lasted 12 hours, concluded at around 03:00 local time on Friday, with all workers reported to be in good health, the National Mining Agency (ANM) stated. Footage of the rescue showed fellow miners clapping and cheering as the workers emerged from the mine shaft. Oxygen was supplied to the trapped miners through hoses during the ordeal, local radio station ABC reported. Yarley Erasmo Marin, a representative of a local miners' association, explained that the collapse was triggered by a mechanical failure in a structure designed to prevent landslides. The local mayor of Remedios, in a letter to the government, noted that the mine was reportedly operating without a license. The ANM urged the mining community to avoid illegal mining activities, which pose significant risks to workers' lives and the environment. Mining accidents are frequent in Colombia, with numerous fatalities reported in recent years. The Colombian energy minister confirmed the successful completion of the rescue, highlighting the efforts of emergency crews in the operation.
