A slope collapse at an open-pit mine in Policarpa, in Colombia’s southwestern Nariño department, has claimed the lives of 13 workers and injured seven others, local authorities said.
Officials confirmed that the incident was caused by a landslide, correcting earlier reports that an explosion had triggered the accident.
Rescue operations were launched involving firefighters, local residents and excavator operators as teams searched through the collapsed section of the mine for missing workers.
The search and rescue operation continued into the early hours, with authorities confirming that all workers who had initially been reported missing were eventually located.
The deadly incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by workers in Colombia’s mining sector, particularly in areas vulnerable to unstable ground conditions.
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse and determine whether any safety measures were breached.
