An explosion in an illegal coal mine in central Colombia has resulted in the deaths of two individuals, while search and rescue operations continue for four missing miners.
A tragic explosion occurred at an illegal coal mine situated in the town of Guatacatín in the department of Cundinamarca, Colombia, claiming the lives of two miners and leaving four others missing. The incident took place on a Thursday, around 100 kilometers from the capital city of Bogotá. Governor Jorge Emilio Rey reported on X platform that the bodies of two out of the six miners who were working inside the mine have been recovered.
Rescue efforts are ongoing as teams work to locate the missing miners. However, the operations have faced significant challenges due to the presence of high methane levels in the mine, which led rescuers to temporarily suspend their search for safety reasons. Alveiro Aguiñon, the head of firefighters responding to the incident, informed AFP that efforts continued throughout the night to save those trapped.
The situation remains dire as time passes, and hopes are dwindling for the remaining miners. The illegal nature of the mine raises concerns about safety regulations and oversight in such operations in Colombia, which has a long history of mining accidents. This incident highlights the need for stricter enforcement of mining laws to prevent future tragedies and protect workers' lives.
