Nine die in coal mine gas explosion in Colombia
Nine people have died in an explosion at a coal mine in Sutatausa, north of Colombia's capital, Bogotá.
Emergency workers said they had rescued six miners from the shafts and were continuing efforts to recover the bodies of those killed.
Colombia's national mining agency said a build-up of gases was thought to have caused the blast at 16:00 local time on Monday.
It also said it had inspected the mine less than a month ago and had warned operators about a potentially dangerous gas build-up.
The regional fire department said crews were still working at the site.
The incident adds to concerns about safety in parts of Colombia's mining sector, where some mines are operated informally and without proper standards.
Sutatausa has seen a deadly mining disaster before.
In 2023, 21 people died in a blast in a complex of coal mines in the area, with investigators later saying methane gas had built up in the tunnels.
The latest explosion is likely to renew scrutiny of mine safety checks and enforcement in the area.
