After a 48-hour rescue operation, all 23 miners trapped underground following a gold mine collapse in northwestern Colombia were successfully rescued on October 24, covered in mud but largely unharmed.

The Colombian National Mining Agency announced on social media platform X that the rescue team worked “nonstop for 48 hours” to bring every miner to safety. Footage released by the agency showed rescuers hoisting the miners one by one out of the shaft using ropes, as emotional family members and loved ones rushed forward to embrace them upon their emergence.

According to local officials, the trapped miners received food, drinking water, oxygen, and other essential supplies through an underground pipeline during the rescue. They maintained phone contact with both their families and rescue personnel, and the mine’s ventilation system remained fully operational throughout the incident.

The accident occurred at approximately 11:00 a.m. on October 22 at a gold mine located in Segovia, Antioquia Department, operated by a local partner under contract with Canada-based Aris Mining. A collapse about 80 meters below the main entrance trapped the 23 workers underground.

Mining is a cornerstone of Colombia’s economy, yet accidents remain frequent—particularly in informal or illegal operations. Data from the National Mining Agency shows that 124 people died in mining accidents in 2024, and 65 fatalities were recorded in the first seven months of 2025 alone.

(Source: China Central Television News)