Bogota - Saba:
Colombian authorities have rescued 18 miners who had been trapped inside a gold mine in the Remedios area of Antioquia department, in the northwest of the country, following a serious incident that left them underground for more than 12 days.
The National Mining Agency reported that the rescue operation lasted around twelve hours and that all the miners are in good health.
Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of Mines and Energy had expressed optimism about the workers’ chances of survival but did not provide specific details about the nature of the incident.
Yarley Erasmo Marín, a representative of the local miners’ association, explained that the accident was caused by a mechanical failure, which led to the collapse of a structure designed to prevent landslides, effectively blocking the mine’s main exit.
In a related statement, the mayor of Remedios suggested in a letter to the government that the mine in question was "likely being operated illegally."
The Antioquia region is known as a hub for mining activity in Colombia. Meanwhile, mining accidents—especially in coal mines—remain common across the country, particularly in central regions, claiming dozens of lives annually.