Landslide at illegal gold mine in southwestern Colombia kills 14

OPA WIRE, Oct 20 (OPA) — A landslide struck an unregulated gold mine in southwestern Colombia on Monday, resulting in 14 confirmed deaths. Seven additional individuals sustained injuries in the collapse, according to regional officials. The site is located in Narino, a border region near Ecuador known for clandestine mining operations.

Alex Gonzalez, the regional secretary for peace and security, confirmed the revised death toll to Caracol television. Search and rescue efforts have officially concluded. Emergency teams faced significant delays reaching the site due to the area's rugged geography and the presence of criminal organizations that exert control over the local gold trade.

Illegal mining remains a primary source of income in Narino, where armed groups frequently manage the extraction process alongside drug trafficking and extortion. A representative from the governor’s office noted that traditional small-scale mining has largely vanished, leaving residents with few economic alternatives beyond high-risk, unregulated labor.

Mine accidents occur frequently across Colombia, particularly at sites lacking government oversight. Local reports from the municipality indicate that armed groups maintain control through violence, including targeted killings of individuals suspected of collaborating with security forces or rival factions, or those accused of gold theft.