An open-pit gold mine in a remote part of Nariño province, Colombia, collapsed, killing at least 14 people and leaving dozens missing, while rescue efforts face difficulties due to hard-to-reach terrain and security concerns.
On 19 Oct 2026, an open-pit gold mine collapsed in the Santa Barbara de Iscuande municipality, a remote area in Nariño province, southwestern Colombia, resulting in at least 14 confirmed deaths and reports of approximately 12 to 15 people missing.
Jorge Tovar Castillo, a disaster response official in Nariño province, revealed that municipal agencies are currently responsible for rescue operations, but coordination is challenging because the area is deep within dense rainforest and accessible only by boat or small aircraft.
Luis Alfonso Escobar, governor of Nariño province, stated via the X platform that the collapsed gold mine is an informal operation. Colombia has hundreds of small mines operating without government permits, some controlled by rebel groups. He emphasized the urgent mission is to save victims, support affected families, and provide prompt assistance.
Besides difficult access, the site faces security challenges, with reports of two rebel groups operating in the area, including the Jacobo Arenas faction led by former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who rejected the 2016 peace agreement with the government.
Meanwhile, Colombia's Ombudsman’s Office has called on armed groups in the area to allow humanitarian aid to reach the community, stressing that all efforts should focus on protecting lives and responding to this emergency.
Source: AP