After an arduous 12-hour rescue operation, all 18 gold miners trapped in the El Minón mine were brought to safety in Colombia, drawing attention to the dangers of illegal mining activities in the region.
Successful Rescue of Trapped Gold Miners in Colombia Highlights Dangers of Illegal Mining
Successful Rescue of Trapped Gold Miners in Colombia Highlights Dangers of Illegal Mining
Eighteen gold miners, trapped for 18 hours in an unlicensed mine in Colombia, were safely rescued, underscoring the risks associated with illegal mining operations.
Eighteen workers trapped for nearly 18 hours inside an unlicensed gold mine in northwestern Colombia have been successfully rescued, with emergency services completing the operation early Friday morning. The miners had become enclosed in the El Minón mine, located in the Antioquia region, due to a mechanical failure that caused a structure designed to avert landslides to collapse and obstruct the main exit.
Colombia's National Mining Agency (ANM) reported that all miners emerged from the ordeal in good health, while the local mayor confirmed the mine's lack of proper licensing in a letter to the government. The rescue operation concluded shortly after 03:00 local time (09:00 BST), as video footage captured the jubilant moment when colleagues of the rescued miners cheered their return.
Rescue teams utilized hoses to provide oxygen to the individuals while they awaited extraction. A representative from a local miners' association, Yarley Erasmo Marin, spoke to AFP, shedding light on the circumstances that led to the disaster and emphasizing the ongoing risks associated with illegal mining operations.
In a statement by the ANM, they urged the mining community to "refrain from illegal mining activities, which endanger the lives and safety of those involved and also impact the country's resources and the environment." Mining accidents remain prevalent in Colombia, with a history of such incidents resulting in numerous fatalities.
