BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — A collapse at a gold mine in northern Colombia trapped greater than 20 miners, and rescuers had been working Tuesday to dig them out, authorities and firm officers mentioned.
Canada’s Aris Mining Corp., which works with the independently run La Reliquia mine within the Antioquia area, mentioned in an announcement that the primary shaft collapsed Monday and that 5 firm workers had been among the many 23 trapped. It mentioned it anticipated the trapped miners to be dropped at the floor on Wednesday, and that rescuers had been delivering meals and water to them within the meantime.
Colombia’s Nationwide Mining Company mentioned in a separate assertion that 25 folks had been trapped within the gold mine, within the municipality of Segovia.
La Reliquia is positioned inside a mining block that has been assigned to Aris, however that’s operated by a neighborhood mining cooperative.
The Canadian firm mentioned that the mine has about 60 workers general, and that it gives a “small portion” of the ore that helps its general gold manufacturing in Segovia.
Aris runs two mining concessions in Colombia, which final 12 months produced about 6.6 tons of gold, or 210,000 ounces. Colombia’s gold manufacturing climbed to 67 tons per 12 months in 2024, supported by excessive costs for the valuable steel.
A report revealed in 2023 by Colombia’s Human Rights Ombudsman mentioned that greater than 80% of Colombia’s gold is mined by casual operators with no licenses, together with artisanal miners but in addition members of insurgent teams.
The precarious situations at some gold mines in Colombia have led to deadly accidents. On Saturday the our bodies of seven miners had been discovered at an unlawful mine in Cauca province. Rescue groups took 9 days to achieve the trapped staff.
