Colombia says 9 miners dead after explosion

An explosion inside a coal mine in central Colombia has left nine workers dead, according to the country's mining authority.

The incident occurred on Monday at the legally operated La Ciscuda mine in the municipality of Sutatausa in Cundinamarca, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Bogota.

Six miners were reported to have been rescued.

Colombia mine was asked to shore up safety measures

The National Mining Agency (ANM) said a buildup of gases was the likely cause of the blast. It added that during a site visit on April 9, the agency had identified the presence of gases — including methane — which it warned could become dangerous.

The ANM said it recommended that the ‌mine strengthen ​its safety measures.

"As the ANM has warned during its inspection visits, coal deposits ⁠can ​present accumulations of gases ​such as methane, as well as concentrations of coal dust," ​the agency said ‌in a statement.

There was no immediate response from Carbonera Los Pinos, the company that operates the mine.

Rescue efforts

The six survivors from the explosion were taken to a regional hospital, where they were receiving treatment.

Cundinamarca Governor Jorge Emilio Rey shared photos of ambulances stationed at the mine's entrance as rescue operations were underway.

He had earlier said that 15 people were inside the mine when the explosion occurred and that three had managed to escape.

Mining accidents in the South American country often occur due to poor ventilation. Colombia is a major global coal producer and a key global exporter of high-quality thermal coal, largely to Europe and Latin America.

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Edited by: Roshni Majumdar