At least six people die in the collapse of an illegal gold mine in southwest Colombia

At least six people have died due to the collapse of an illegal gold extraction mine in Nariño, a department bordering Colombia with Ecuador, the local government reported on Monday.

The incident occurred in a rural area of ​​Santa Bárbara de Iscuandé, a small municipality characterized by traditional gold exploitation, within a mine that was not authorized to operate, added the report from the government of Nariño.

Jorge Tovar, spokesperson for the Administrative Directorate of Disaster Risk Management, said in a statement shared with the press that six dead people were transferred from the scene of the emergency to the urban capital.

However, the number of victims could increase because it is estimated that there are between 12 and 15 more people missing, Tovar added.

The government indicated that the "communication difficulties with the area" prevent immediately establishing a definitive assessment of the emergency.

The National Mining Agency reported on the social network

The state Ombudsman's Office urged local and national authorities to deploy to reach Santa Bárbara de Iscuandé, located approximately 550 kilometers from Pasto, the capital of Nariño.