Nine miners killed, six rescued after Colombia coal mine explosion; final toll announced

An explosion at a coal mine in Sutatausa killed nine workers and left emergency crews still retrieving bodies; the explosion occurred at 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT) and officials said a build-up of gases was the likely cause. Six miners were rescued from the shafts.

The national mining agency published a list of recommendations to mine operators after an inspection less than a month earlier, warning of a potentially dangerous gas build-up.

In July 2025, 18 workers were rescued from an unlicensed gold mine after being trapped underground for 18 hours due to a mechanical failure.

In 2023, a blast tore through the tunnels of a coal mine complex in Sutatausa, killing 21 people.

An explosion inside a coal mine in Sutatausa, Cundinamarca, central Colombia was caused by a buildup of gases. The National Mining Agency reported the final toll: nine miners dead and six rescued.