18 TRAPPED MINERS RESCUED IN COLOMBIA AFTER 18-HOUR ORDEAL
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Eighteen gold miners trapped underground in northwest Colombia have been rescued after a dramatic 12-hour emergency operation, the government confirmed on Friday.
The workers were safely brought to the surface from a mine in the town of Remedios, Antioquia department, where they had been trapped for approximately 18 hours due to an equipment failure. All were reported to be in good health, according to the National Mining Agency.
Dressed in blue jumpsuits and yellow helmets, the miners emerged from the shaft one after another to cheers, hugs, and applause from colleagues waiting above ground. Television footage showed them receiving energy drinks and emotional embraces following their ordeal.
The incident began Thursday when a mechanical malfunction caused the collapse of a key structure designed to prevent landslides, effectively blocking the mine’s main exit. Rescuers worked through the night, using flashlights and navigating dangerous conditions to locate and free the trapped workers.
Yarley Erasmo Marin, a representative of a local miners’ association, told AFP the collapse was due to a failure in the mine’s protective structure. Meanwhile, Remedios Mayor’s office indicated in a message to the national government that the mine appeared to be operating without a license.
Remedios is part of a region with a long-standing mining tradition, though it is also known for illegal mining activities that sometimes fund armed groups, including the powerful Gulf Clan cartel.
While this rescue ended in relief, mining accidents remain a persistent danger in Colombia especially in coal operations in the country’s central region, where dozens of miners lose their lives annually.
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