In brief
An explosive open‑air gold mine at Policarpa, in southern Colombia, slammed onto workers, killing 13 and injuring seven. Witnesses said an explosion rocked the site moments before the slide. The tragedy struck mainly Indigenous Quillacinga community members, with four casualties from the same family. Artisanal miners, estimated at 200,000‑400,000 across Colombia, rely on gold extraction for income but operate without official safety oversight.
An explosive open‑air artisanal gold mine at Policarpa in southern Nariño province collapsed in a sudden landslide on Wednesday, killing at least 13 workers and leaving seven injured.
Witnesses reported hearing an explosion moments before workers were trapped below. Emergency crews and local residents used diggers to retrieve the bodies.
The incident shines a light on the hidden dangers of unlicensed mines, where many locals dig for precious metals without any official oversight. Between 200,000 and 400,000 people across Colombia are estimated to engage in artisanal mining, often relying on the sale of gold and stones to make a living.
Four of the 13 dead were members of the same Indigenous Quillacinga family, underscoring the profound impact on close-knit communities.
Locals regularly sent around 50 people—most from the Quillacinga tribe—to work at the Policarpa site, making the tragedy a devastating blow to both their safety and their economic resilience.
