Audio By Carbonatix Nine people have died in an explosion at a coal mine in Colombia in the latest fatal accident to hit the country's mining sector. Emergency workers said they had rescued six miners from the shafts in Sutatausa, north of the capital, Bogotá. Colombia's national mining agency said a build-up of gases was thought to have caused the explosion at 16:00 (21:00 GMT) on Monday. It also published a list of recommendations it said it had made to the mine's operators after an inspection less than a month ago, in which it had warned of a "potentially dangerous gas build-up". Many mines in Colombia are operated informally and without proper safety standards. The captain of the regional fire department, Álvaro Farfán, said emergency workers were still working to retrieve the miners' bodies. Those who survived are being treated in hospital. Mining accidents are common in Colombia. Last July, 18 workers were rescued from an unlicensed gold mine after having been trapped underground for 18 hours due to a mechanical failure. One of the deadliest recent incidents also unfolded in Sutatausa in 2023, when 21 people died in a blast which tore through the tunnels of a complex of coal mines in the area. That explosion was caused by a build-up of methane gas, investigators said at the time. Sutatausa has been a coal-mining centre for decades with many of its residents working in the industry. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags: coal miners Colombia gas explosion Mining DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Related to this story Chamber of Mines disputes GoldBod CEO’s claim on forex repatriation by large-scale miners May Day: Lands and Mines Watch Ghana demands safer conditions, fair wages for workers US not funding Congo’s $100m mine guard, embassy says The reality check: Aligning policy ambition with operational truth in Ghana’s mining sector Death toll in Colombia highway bus bomb attack rises to 20 Colombia president says rebels behind highway bombing that killed 14 people Politics must be set aside in galamsey fight—Afigya Kwabre North MP ‘Adamus is for Ghanaians’ – Mining firm refutes claims of secret foreign leases Adamus reaffirms commitment to Nzema communities amid concession concerns JoyNews’ Maxwell Agbagba among five journalists to attend climate conference in Colombia Latest Stories Nine coal miners die in gas explosion in Colombia11 seconds Boakye Agyarko pledges to rebuild NPP ahead of 2028 elections5 minutes Police probe alleged assault of Amaniampong SHS student over church service refusal14 minutes Ga Mantse donates 3,000 mathematical sets to BECE candidates in Accra18 minutes Two remanded over alleged illegal possession of G3 rifle, ammunition35 minutes Gov’t fast-tracks Accra–Kumasi expressway with military-led groundwork57 minutes Court orders psychiatric evaluation for man accused of stealing police armoured vehicle1 hour Ghana launches National Mental Health Campaign with 24/7 digital care platform1 hour GoldBod Jewellery opens nationwide partnership drive for sales agents and franchise owners1 hour TGMA 2026 moves to Grand Arena as organisers announce venue change1 hour ‘We survived on snow and sand’ – Victim recounts harrowing experience on frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war2 hours ‘I considered retiring’ – Kofi Kyereh opens up on rehabilitation struggles2 hours Gov’t and mining companies in talks over gold mobilisation and forex strategy2 hours Gender Ministry rallies support for Ghana’s bid to UNCRPD Expert Committee seat2 hours WPL 2025/26: Hasaacas Ladies receive donation from Betika Ghana after second-place finish2 hours