Nine miners have been confirmed dead following a gas explosion at a coal mine in central Colombia, authorities said.
The incident occurred in Sutatausa municipality, about 72 kilometres north of Bogotá, in what officials described as a legally operated mining site.
In a statement, the National Mining Agency said six miners were rescued alive, while nine others lost their lives “following an emergency at a mine in Sutatausa, Cundinamarca.”
Cundinamarca Governor, Jorge Emilio Rey, attributed the explosion to a suspected accumulation of gases inside the mine.
“The explosion was apparently due to a buildup of gases,” Rey said in a post on X.
He had earlier disclosed that 12 miners were trapped underground, with three managing to escape before emergency responders arrived at the scene.
Images shared by the governor showed ambulances stationed at the mine’s entrance as rescue teams mobilised. Authorities said they were assessing gas levels before proceeding fully with rescue operations to avoid further casualties.
Mining accidents remain frequent in Colombia, often linked to poor ventilation systems and unsafe conditions, particularly in illegal or informal mining sites. However, the incident occurred at a licensed operation, raising fresh concerns over safety compliance in the sector.
Investigations into the cause of the explosion are ongoing.
