At least 11 people died and another was blocked underground on Tuesday morning by a gas explosion at a coal mine near Topaga, Boyaca, in central Colombia.
According to local rescuers, the mine operated legally. The four victims have already been identified. The rescue operation continues.
According to Colombian media reports, this is the 87th mining accident in the Boyaca department since the beginning of the year.
As a reminder, on June 11, nine miners were killed in an explosion at a mine in the municipality of Soca.
Colombian mines often experience serious accidents, where safety standards are often not met. Illegal mining, in particular, is a problem in several countries in Latin America.
The Colombian government has yet to provide any indication that the mine was illegal.
