Twenty-three miners rescued after 43 hours trapped in Colombian gold mine

BOGOTA, Colombia — Twenty-three miners were rescued Wednesday after spending 43 hours trapped in the La Reliquia underground gold mine in the Antioquia department.

Colombia's National Mining Agency said the main entrance to the mine collapsed on Monday due to a geomechanical failure. A video released by the ANM shows the first rescued miners walking out under their own power, using a rope to climb the steep entrance to the shaft. Their health status was not immediately disclosed. Families waited for hours, erupting in tears and applause as the rescue progressed.

The mine sits on land owned by Canada's Aris Mining Corp but is operated by a local mining cooperative. Aris Mining said it had provided food, water and ventilation during the rescue effort. The mine employs about 60 workers and accounts for a small portion of the company's gold production in the area. Aris runs two mining concessions in Colombia, which last year produced about 6.6 tons of gold. Colombia produced about 67 tons of gold in 2024, helped by high prices for the metal.

Separately, human rights advocates note the sector's reliance on informal mining. A 2023 report by Colombia's Human Rights Ombudsman said more than 80 percent of the country's gold is mined informally, including artisanal miners and sometimes rebel groups involved in illicit activity. In Cauca province, seven bodies were found at an illegal mine on Saturday, with rescue teams taking nine days to reach the trapped workers. The incidents highlight ongoing safety and regulatory challenges in Colombia's mining sector.

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