All 23 Trapped in Colombian Mine Rescued Alive

All 23 gold miners trapped for 48 hours in a collapsed shaft in Colombia were brought to the surface alive on Wednesday, emerging mud-covered but safe, greeted by loud applause from colleagues and loved ones above ground.

Images shared by the state mining agency showed the miners being rescued in groups, supported by emergency personnel and sipping water at La Reliquia mine, located approximately four hours from Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city, in the northwestern Antioquia department.

The miners had been trapped underground since early Monday at a depth of 80 metres (262 feet). During the ordeal, they were supplied with food, water, and oxygen via underground pipelines.

Officials confirmed that the miners were able to communicate with rescuers and their families by telephone throughout the rescue operation. The mine’s ventilation system remained operational during the entire incident.

The mine is operated by a local cooperative on behalf of Canada’s Aris Mining Corporation.

Mining accidents are common in Colombia, often resulting in dozens of fatalities each year, particularly at unlicensed operations.

• Recent Incidents:
  • On Sunday, seven miners trapped in an illegal gold mine in southwestern Colombia were found dead.
  • In July, 18 miners were rescued alive from a collapsed gold mine in the northwest after a 12-hour emergency operation.

Key Details

The successful rescue marks a rare positive outcome in Colombia’s mining sector, where tragedies frequently occur, especially in informal or unlicensed mines.