Gold Mine Collapse Kills at Least 14

At least 14 people were killed and seven others injured after an illegal gold mine collapsed in south-western Colombia. The fatal accident occurred on Monday (19 October 2026), local time, in the rural area of Chambero, in the municipality of Santa Bárbara de Iscuandé, Nariño province.

Reuters reported on Tuesday (20 October 2026) that search-and-rescue operations at the site had been completed. Nariño Governor Luis Alfonso Escobar confirmed that the evacuation process had ended.

The tragedy prompted a response from the local government. Escobar specifically urged the national government, the National Mining Agency and Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy to take concrete action on the status of mineworkers.

“Accelerate the formalisation process for illegal and small-scale miners,” Escobar said.

“This step is intended to improve working conditions and safety standards.”

This is not the first fatal mining incident in the area. In August, 13 people were also reported killed in a similar accident in the town of Policarpa, also in Nariño province.

Informal and unregulated mining remains widespread in rural areas across Colombia. Such illegal operations often lack adequate safety infrastructure, repeatedly leading to fatal accidents.