Emergency crews in Colombia successfully rescued 18 workers who had been trapped underground in a gold mine for nearly 18 hours, the government announced Friday.
“All were found in good health,” the National Mining Agency said in a statement on X, following a 12-hour rescue operation in the northwest town of Remedios, Antioquia department.
The miners, dressed in blue jumpsuits and yellow helmets, walked out of the mine one by one to cheers and embraces from colleagues. Television footage showed them receiving energy drinks and emotional support from fellow workers.
The incident began Thursday when a mechanical failure caused the collapse of a structure meant to prevent landslides, blocking the mine’s main exit, according to Yarley Erasmo Marin, a representative of a local miners’ association.
Rescue images released by the National Mining Agency showed teams searching in the dark with flashlights.
Remedios, part of Colombia’s gold-rich Antioquia region, has a long-standing mining tradition. However, local officials said the affected mine may have been operating without proper licensing.
The region has also drawn scrutiny due to reports that gold mining sometimes funds armed groups, including the Gulf Clan, a powerful cartel involved in drug trafficking.
Mining accidents—particularly in coal operations—are not uncommon in Colombia, where safety violations have led to dozens of deaths annually.
