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All 23 Rescued From Colombia’s La Reliquia Gold Mine After 48 Hours Underground

Officials cited geomechanical failure as the cause, sharpening scrutiny of safety in Colombia’s largely informal gold sector.

Red cross and firefighters work to rescue trapped miners after the gold mine they were working in collapsed, in Segovia, Colombia, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
Yuliana Andrea Agudelo, mother of miner Sebastian Agudelo, reacts upon hearing that her son was rescued from a gold mine that had collapsed trapping over 20 miners, in Segovia, Colombia, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
Relatives and coworkers of the trapped miners waited for news outside the La Reliquia gold mine in Segovia, Antioquia department
Friends and relatives waited at the site all night for news on the miners

Overview

  • Rescuers brought the miners to the surface one by one in Segovia after round-the-clock efforts led by Colombia’s National Mining Agency.
  • Ventilation remained operational and pipelines delivered food, water and oxygen, with a wired phone keeping contact with families and teams above ground.
  • Authorities said the main entrance collapsed due to a geomechanical failure that occurred late Monday.
  • The mine sits on concessions assigned to Canada’s Aris Mining but is operated by a local cooperative, raising questions about oversight and responsibility.
  • Mining accidents are frequent in Colombia, where most gold is produced by informal operators, and seven miners were recently found dead at an illegal site in Cauca.