BOGOTÁ: A deadly explosion at a coal mine in Colombia’s Cundinamarca province has killed nine workers and left six others injured, according to the national mining authority, in a tragic incident that comes shortly after safety concerns were formally raised at the site.
The blast took place on Monday at the La Ciscuda mine, which Carbonera Los Pinos operates. In a statement, the National Mining Agency (ANM) indicated that preliminary findings suggest a dangerous accumulation of underground gases may have triggered the explosion.
Officials said the presence of methane and other gases had been detected during earlier inspections.
The agency further noted that it had conducted a site visit on 9 April, during which inspectors identified potentially hazardous conditions.
At that time, they reportedly advised the mine operators to reinforce safety protocols in order to mitigate the risk posed by gas build-ups and coal dust concentrations.
“As the ANM has repeatedly highlighted during its inspection visits, coal deposits may contain accumulations of gases such as methane, alongside coal dust concentrations that can become highly volatile under certain conditions,” the authority said.
Emergency services confirmed that six survivors of the explosion were transported to a regional hospital, where they are currently receiving medical treatment for their injuries. The severity of their conditions has not yet been fully disclosed.
According to Reuters, mining disasters are a recurring concern in Colombia, particularly in both underground and open-pit coal and gold operations.
Many of these incidents have been linked to insufficient safety measures, with illegal and informal mining sites often posing the highest risk to workers.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the exact cause of the explosion and whether recommended safety improvements were implemented prior to the tragedy.
