A landslide at an illegal gold mine in Colombia’s southern department of Nariño left 14 people dead and seven others injured on Monday, October 19, in another tragedy highlighting the dangers of mining operations without adequate safety measures.
The accident occurred in a rural area of the municipality of Santa Barbara de Iscuande, on the Pacific coast, where about 30 workers were present when the ground gave way.
Departmental authorities confirmed that search operations had ended after all those affected were located. Four of the injured were in serious condition and needed to be transferred to better-equipped medical facilities.
The emergency, which occurred in a remote region affected by the presence of illegal armed groups, has once again drawn attention to poor working conditions and the lack of regulation at numerous mining operations across Colombia.
Collapse at illegal mine in Southern Colombia kills 14
The accident occurred at around 8 a.m. in a remote rural area. A landslide buried miners working at an open-pit gold mine operating without the required permits.
Initial official reports put the death toll at nine, but the figure rose as rescue operations progressed. The final toll released by departmental authorities confirmed 14 deaths — 12 of them women — and seven people injured.
Local residents, firefighters and Civil Defense personnel took part in search and earth-removal operations. The effort located everyone affected, allowing authorities to call off the search on Monday night.
According to Gabriel Ocaña, administrative director of disaster risk management for the Nariño governor’s office, 13 of the deceased were taken to the municipal seat of Santa Barbara de Iscuande, while another victim was transported to Guapi, in the neighboring department of Cauca.
Authorities also arranged air support to transport the most seriously injured to hospitals in Pasto or Tumaco. The distance, transportation difficulties and terrain complicated the emergency response.
Rainfall and unstable ground under scrutiny
Weather conditions are among the factors cited by departmental authorities to explain the collapse. Nariño Mining Secretary Evelio Aguiño linked the tragedy to rainfall in the region and unstable soil conditions, although the available information is insufficient to establish a definitive technical conclusion about the cause of the accident.
The combination of heavy rainfall, unstable terrain and mining operations without adequate oversight increases the risks faced by workers. Unlike legally registered operations, illegal mines may lack sufficient measures to prevent landslides, protect workers and respond to emergencies.
Nariño Gov. Luis Alfonso Escobar expressed his condolences over the miners’ deaths and warned of the tragedy’s impact on local families. The loss of life once again highlights the consequences of an economic activity that, in many rural communities, represents one of the few available sources of income.
Monday’s collapse follows a recurring pattern. On August 19, another mining accident in the municipality of Policarpa left 13 people dead, according to figures released by authorities. With the deaths in Santa Bárbara de Iscuandé, the two accidents have claimed a total of 27 lives in the department in less than three months.
Informal mining is widespread in various parts of Nariño, particularly along the Pacific coast and the foothills of the Andes. A lack of economic opportunities, limited access to remote areas and obstacles to formalizing mining operations complicate government oversight.
The presence of illegal armed organizations that exert influence in various parts of the department adds to these challenges. According to authorities, these groups are involved in illicit economies, including gold mining. Their presence makes it more difficult both to control mining operations and to ensure emergency response teams can reach affected areas safely.
Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office called for guarantees to ensure humanitarian assistance can reach the affected population and urged institutions to coordinate their response. The agency stressed that protecting lives and assisting victims must remain the top priorities.
Deslizamiento en una mina de oro en Colombia deja 14 muertos y 7 heridos
El derrumbe de una mina ilegal de oro en el departamento colombiano de Nariño dejó al menos 14 muertos y 7 heridos. Las autoridades informaron que las labores de búsqueda y rescate han concluido. https://t.co/NetKXN6P7Y
— HispanTV (@Nexo_Latino) October 20, 2026