Colombia Coal Mine Explosion Kills 9 Workers
Al Jazeera Staff
A gas explosion at a legal coal mine in Colombia's Cundinamarca province killed nine workers and injured six others on Monday, just weeks after authorities warned about methane gas buildup. The blast at the Carbonera Los Pinos mine occurred 600 meters underground. Rescue teams saved six miners, while nine were confirmed dead.
A coal mine explosion on Monday in the municipality of Sutatausa, Cundinamarca province, roughly 72 km north of the capital Bogotá, killed nine workers and left six others injured. Colombia's National Mining Agency (ANM) confirmed the blast was caused by accumulated gas.
The explosion occurred at a mine operated by the company Carbonera Los Pinos. Workers were reportedly at a depth of at least 600 meters. Local authorities said they were unable to immediately contact the company for comment.
Cundinamarca Governor Jorge Emilio Rey said on social media platform X that the explosion "appears to be due to gas accumulation." He earlier reported that 12 people were trapped and three had escaped. Rescue teams were en route to the scene, and the injured were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The ANM stated that during an inspection on April 9, it detected gas—including methane—at the mine and recommended enhanced safety measures. "As the ANM has warned in its inspections, coal mines can accumulate methane and coal dust," the agency said in a statement. It expressed condolences to the victims' families and noted that thanks to a swift rescue effort, six miners were saved.
Mining accidents in Colombia are often caused by poor ventilation. In the area of the explosion, illegal mines that fail to meet safety standards also operate. Blasts and other incidents frequently occur, primarily at informal or inadequately regulated operations.
Governor Rey shared images of ambulances at the mine entrance and said authorities were assessing gas levels before conducting rescue operations. "We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and send our condolences, solidarity, and support to the victims' families," he said.
