In brief
At least 13 miners died and seven were injured when a landslide destroyed an unlicensed open‑air gold mine in Policarpa, Nariño province. Witnesses reported an explosion minutes before the collapse, and diggers, along with local responders, recovered the victims. The tragedy highlighted the dangers of artisanal mining without oversight, affecting thousands of families who rely on gold for survival. Among the dead were four members of a single indigenous family, illustrating the deep impact on local communities. The incident underscores urgent calls for safer, regulated mining practices in Colombia.
Tragedy at Colombian Artisanal Gold Mine
At least 13 workers were killed and another seven injured when a landslide collapsed inside an unlicensed open‑air gold mine in Policarpa, southern Nariño province.
Witnesses heard a sudden explosion in the mine before the ground sank, trapping workers underground. Emergency crews and locals used diggers to retrieve the bodies.
The accident is a reminder of the high occupational hazards at artisanal mines that operate without official oversight—a feature that runs through much of Colombia’s mining sector.
Four of the 13 dead were members of a single indigenous family, underscoring the grave impact on local communities.
People belonging to the Quillacinga indigenous group routinely work at the mine, and estimates say 200,000‑400,000 individuals participate in artisanal mining across Colombia, many depending on the income from precious metals to survive.
