All 23 gold miners trapped for two days in a collapsed shaft in Colombia were brought to safety on Wednesday, emerging mud-covered but largely unharmed to cheers from colleagues and emotional embraces from their families.
The dramatic rescue took place at La Reliquia mine in Antioquia, about four hours from Medellín. Images released by the National Mining Agency (ANM) showed miners being pulled out one by one, supported by rescuers and clutching water bottles, as loved ones shouted encouragement: “Come on, you can do it!”
The miners had been stranded 80 meters underground since early Monday. Rescue teams sustained them with food, water, and oxygen delivered through pipelines, while a functioning ventilation system and telephone communication helped maintain morale during the ordeal.
After “48 hours of nonstop operations,” the ANM confirmed the success of the mission, sparking relief among relatives who had waited anxiously through the night for news.
The mine is operated by a local cooperative for Canada’s Aris Mining Corporation. Mining accidents are common in Colombia, often at illegal sites, and claimed 124 lives last year. Just days earlier, seven miners were found dead in a collapsed illegal gold mine in the southwest, while 18 others were rescued from a separate incident in July.
What you should know
The successful rescue at La Reliquia mine highlights both the resilience of Colombian miners and the ongoing dangers of the industry, where frequent accidents, often at unlicensed sites, make mining one of the country’s riskiest occupations.
