An explosion inside a legally operated coal mine in central Colombia killed nine workers, the country’s National Mining Agency (ANM) said. The blast happened Monday at the La Ciscuda mine in Sutatausa, in Cundinamarca, about 72 kilometers (45 miles) north of Bogotá.
Six miners were rescued and taken to a regional hospital for treatment, authorities said. Cundinamarca Governor Jorge Emilio Rey posted images of ambulances at the mine entrance as rescue teams worked. He earlier said 15 people had been inside the mine when the explosion occurred and that three miners managed to escape on their own.
The ANM indicated that a buildup of gases, including methane, was the likely cause of the blast. During an inspection visit on April 9 the agency had detected gas accumulations and warned they could become dangerous, recommending the mine strengthen its safety measures.
There was no immediate response from Carbonera Los Pinos, the company that operates La Ciscuda. Mining accidents in Colombia often result from poor ventilation in underground workings. Colombia is a major global producer and exporter of thermal coal, supplying markets in Europe and Latin America.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar