A deadly explosion at a coal mine in Colombia’s Cundinamarca province has claimed the lives of nine workers, while six others sustained injuries, the national mining authority confirmed on Monday.
The incident occurred just weeks after safety warnings were issued for the site.
The blast took place at the La Ciscuda mine, which is operated by Carbonera Los Pinos.
The company has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the tragedy.
Preliminary findings suggest the explosion was triggered by a dangerous accumulation of underground gases. During an inspection visit on April 9, the mining authority had already flagged potential risks at the site, including the presence of methane and other hazardous gases.
In its statement, the agency noted: “As the ANM has warned during its inspection visits, coal deposits can present accumulations of gases such as methane, as well as concentrations of coal dust,” highlighting the persistent dangers associated with mining operations in the area.
The six surviving miners were transported to a nearby regional hospital, where they are currently receiving medical treatment for their injuries.
Mining accidents remain a recurring issue in Colombia, particularly in underground and open-pit coal and gold operations. Authorities say many of these incidents occur in illegal or informal mines, or in sites where safety regulations are poorly enforced or entirely absent.
