Fredy Gamez Confirms 13 Workers Killed in Landslide at Illegal Colombian Gold Mine
At least 13 workers were killed and seven others injured in a landslide at an unlicensed gold mine in Colombia's southwestern Nariño region on Wednesday night. Fredy Gamez, the regional government secretary, confirmed that the collapse was caused by improper ore extraction rather than an initial report of an explosion. The disaster occurred at a mine near Policarpa, where approximately 50 people, primarily from the Quillacinga indigenous group, regularly worked. Rescue efforts involving firefighters and local residents continued until early Thursday morning. While accidents are common in unregulated Colombian mines, this specific incident highlights the risks of artisanal mining where workers lack formal oversight. The landslide comes as Colombia works to recover from a recent 7.4 magnitude earthquake. Additionally, President Abelardo de la Espriella has requested the United States to temporarily suspend tariffs to assist local business owners during the recovery period.