World · Latin America · 33 mins ago
Gold mine collapse in Colombia kills at least six miners
A gold mine collapsed in Nariño province in southwestern Colombia, in the rural area of Santa Barbara de Iscuande.
Authorities gave differing figures: one account said 14 people were killed and seven injured, while another reported at least six dead and 12 to 15 miners missing.
The mine was described by the governor as informal, meaning it operated outside the formal mining system.
The area is surrounded by rainforest and can be reached only by boat or small aircraft, making emergency response difficult.
Informal and unregulated mines are common in rural Colombia, where limited safety infrastructure can contribute to deadly accidents.
The governor said search and rescue operations had concluded and called on national authorities to speed up formalization of small-scale miners to improve working conditions and safety.
Local authorities said a collapse at an informal gold mine in Colombia’s Nariño province killed 14 people and injured seven.
An AP report initially said at least six miners had died, while authorities also reported 12 to 15 people missing.
The collapse occurred in the remote Chambero sector of Santa Barbara de Iscuande, which is accessible only by boat or small aircraft.
Reports differed on the rescue effort: Al Jazeera said operations had concluded, while NOS said responders were still searching for missing people.
Nariño’s governor called for improved formalization of small-scale mining, while the Ombudsman’s Office urged armed groups to allow humanitarian aid into the area.
- Who
- Miners working at an informal gold mine. Authorities reported 14 dead and seven injured; 12 to 15 others were reported missing.
- What
- A gold mine collapsed. The reported death toll differed: AP initially said at least six miners were killed, while other reports said 14.
- When
- Monday, October 19, 2026. NOS reported the accident happened around 08:00 local time.
- Where
- The rural Chambero sector of Santa Barbara de Iscuande, in Nariño province, southwestern Colombia.
- Why
- The mine collapsed; the cause was not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Thirteen people died in a similar mining accident in Policarpa, also in Nariño.
A gold mine collapsed in the Chambero sector of Santa Barbara de Iscuande.
Authorities reported 14 deaths and seven injuries; 12 to 15 miners were reported missing.
Reports differed on whether search and rescue had ended or was still underway.
- Reported deaths
- 14, according to local authorities cited by Al Jazeera, Straits Times and NOS; AP initially reported at least six
- Reported injured
- 7
- Reported missing
- 12 to 15 miners
- Location
- Chambero sector, Santa Barbara de Iscuande, Nariño province
- Access
- Reachable only by boat or small aircraft
- Previous similar accident
- 13 miners died in Policarpa in August 2026
6 sources
Gold mine collapse kills at least 6 in southwest Colombia
Zeker veertien doden bij aardverschuiving in illegale goudmijn in Colombia
Zeker 14 doden bij aardverschuiving illegale goudmijn in Colombia
Colombia illegal gold mine collapse kills 14 people
14 dead, 7 injured in Colombia illegal gold mine collapse
6 miners killed in Colombia gold mine collapse in Nariño province
What people are saying
At this moment our priority is to save lives, accompany families and guarantee an opportune response to this painful tragedy
We are waiting for their next report
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All of our efforts must go towards protecting lives and tending to this emergency