In brief
A sudden landslide at an open‑air gold mine near Policarpa, Nariño province, killed 13 workers and injured seven. Local witnesses heard an explosion moments before the disaster, and emergency crews used diggers to recover the bodies. The tragedy hit a community of about 50 people from the Quillacinga indigenous group, with four casualties belonging to the same family. With 200,000 to 400,000 people engaged in artisanal mining across Colombia, the incident highlights the risks of unlicensed operations.
At least 13 workers were killed and seven injured when a sudden landslide struck an unlicensed open‑air artisanal gold mine in southern Colombia.
Witnesses reported hearing an explosion on a Wednesday afternoon, moments before the collapse buried trapped workers. Emergency crews and local residents employed diggers to locate the bodies and rescue survivors.
The incident occurred at a mine near Policarpa in Nariño province, where roughly 50 people—many belonging to the Quillacinga indigenous group—regularly work to extract precious metals.
Four of the thirteen deceased were members of the same indigenous family, underscoring how the disaster disproportionately affected the local community.
Colombia estimates that between 200,000 and 400,000 people are engaged in artisanal mining nationwide, with many families relying on the sale of gold and gemstones for their livelihoods. The lack of official oversight in unlicensed mines places these communities at ongoing risk.
