Illegal Gold Mine Collapse in Colombia Leaves 14 Dead
A tragic landslide at an unlicensed gold mine in Nariño, Colombia, has resulted in 14 deaths and 7 injuries, sparking urgent calls for mining regulation.
POLICY WIRE — Nariño, Colombia — A catastrophic collapse at an unlicensed gold mine in southwestern Colombia has claimed the lives of 14 people, with seven others sustaining injuries.
The disaster occurred in the rural Chambero sector of the Santa Bárbara de Iscuandé municipality, located within the coastal department of Nariño. Regional authorities confirmed the incident took place on Monday, October 19, 2026.
Nariño Governor Luis Alfonso Escobar announced that search and rescue operations have officially concluded. The event marks the second fatal mining accident in the region in approximately two months, following a similar collapse that resulted in 13 deaths this past August.
The tragedy has intensified pressure on the national government to implement stricter safety standards and oversight for the mining sector. Alex Gonzalez, the Peace and Security Secretary for Nariño, noted that the search efforts ended as reports indicated between 12 and 15 individuals remained missing.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
