Colombia gold mine disaster

Seven miners have been killed in a cave-in at a gold mine in a remote area of western Colombia, officials said yesterday.

The disaster occurred overnight Tuesday to yesterday near the town of Atrato, in the western province of Choco, officials said.

“The bodies of seven people have already been recovered,” said Carlos Ivan Marquez, the head of the national risk management office. Cruz Palacio, who is responsible for security in Choco, said nine people were in the mine when the collapse occurred.

“We were only able to get two out alive, the others died instantly,” Ms Palacio told Radio Caracol in an interview.

She said she did not know if the mine was licensed.