A serious accident in northwest Colombia has left at least 18 miners trapped underground after the collapse of an illegal gold mine, according to an official government statement released on Friday, July 18.

Collapse at Gold Mine in Antioquia Region

The incident occurred in Remedios, a municipality in Colombia’s Antioquia department — a region with a long-standing tradition of mining activity. Local authorities have indicated that the mine was likely operating illegally.

The country’s Ministry of Mines and Energy reported that “all emergency protocols have been activated” in an effort to rescue the trapped workers. In a statement posted on social media platform X, Minister Edwin Palma expressed hope that the miners are still alive, although the cause of the accident remains unclear.

Structural Failure Sealed Exit

Yarley Erasmo Marín, a representative of a local mining workers’ union, stated that a mechanical failure is believed to have caused the collapse of a structure designed to prevent landslides. This failure led to the blockage of the mine’s main exit, effectively trapping the workers underground.

Rescue efforts are currently underway. Photos released by Colombia’s National Mining Agency show emergency personnel using torches as they search the site for survivors.

Gold Mining and Armed Groups

Gold mining in Antioquia has deep historical roots, but in recent years it has also become a source of funding for illegal armed groups, including the Gulf Clan — one of the country’s most powerful drug trafficking cartels, which is also involved in cocaine smuggling.

While this latest incident involves a gold mine, Colombia more frequently sees deadly accidents in coal mining, especially in the central part of the country. Such accidents claim dozens of lives annually.