Colombian coal mine blast kills at least eight

A coal mine blast in northwest Colombia has killed at least eight miners and left over 70 more trapped underground.

According to officials, the explosion happened late on Wedensday 16 June at the San Fernando mine in Amaga, Antioquia province, while the miners were changing shift.

Rescue efforts are underway to save those workers trapped underground, although attempts may prove futile. It is reported that Luz Amanda Pulido, a national disaster official, told local radio: "To be honest there is not much [hope of saving the workers], very little, practically none.”

Speaking on the president’s website, President Alvaro Uribe described the news as “very sad”. He continued: “The information I have from the minister (of mines) is that they have retrieved eight bodies. This is very grave. And I give this news to Colombians with much pain.”

Although the cause of the blast is unknown, officials suspect that it may have resulted from a buildup of methane gas.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/17062010/colombian_coal_mine_blast_kills_at_least_eight/