VIDEO: At least nine dead after gold mine landslide in southwestern Colombia

At least nine people have died after a landslide buried an artisanal gold mine in Santa Bárbara de Iscuandé, in Colombia’s southwestern department of Nariño, on Monday, October 19, according to local authorities.

The disaster occurred around 8:30 a.m. in a remote area between the rural communities of El Chambero and Bellavista. Mud and rocks completely covered the mining site, trapping workers beneath the debris. Preliminary reports indicate that the victims may belong to the same family.

Authorities warned that the death toll could rise, as an estimated 30 people were reportedly working in the area panning for gold when the landslide struck. Local residents, farmers and Civil Defense members joined search and rescue efforts using shovels and basic tools.

Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office called on the national government and military to provide air support to speed up rescue operations and transport injured people to better-equipped medical facilities. It also urged authorities to consider deploying the Benkos Biojó hospital ship, currently docked in nearby Guapi, Cauca.

Rescue and medical teams continue to face challenges due to the area’s difficult geography and security conditions. The Ombudsman’s Office also urged illegal armed groups operating in the region to respect humanitarian corridors and allow emergency personnel and forensic teams to reach the site.