The explosion occurred while the workday was progressing underground and operations were continuing as usual in a mine in Colombia. At the coal deposit in the municipality of Guacheta, north of the capital Bogota, a blast abruptly interrupted activity and left several workers trapped inside the shaft. Hours later, authorities confirmed a preliminary toll of at least six people dead, although firefighters have not yet confirmed this fatal outcome.
The incident once again highlighted the persistent risks of underground mining in Colombia and the fragility of control systems in this type of operation. As rescue efforts and technical inspections move forward, local and national authorities are trying to establish the exact causes of the accident and determine whether the mine met the safety conditions required by law.
Mine explosion in Colombia leaves six Trapped; fears for their lives
The emergency occurred at a mine located in the rural area of Guacheta, a coal-producing municipality about 75 kilometers north of Bogota. According to initial official reports, the explosion was likely caused by the accumulation of gases inside the tunnel, a situation common in this type of operation when ventilation or monitoring systems fail.
At the time of the accident, several workers were inside the shaft carrying out extraction work. The blast created a highly contaminated environment with toxic gases, which hindered the immediate entry of rescue teams and forced a temporary suspension of operations while ventilation work was carried out to reduce the risk of further explosions.
Authorities confirmed that there was no structural collapse of the mine, but there was severe deterioration of the internal environment, which would have prevented any possibility of survival. As the hours passed, the deaths of at least six miners were confirmed, although the number could change as verification inside the tunnel continues.
Guacheta is one of the municipalities with the longest mining tradition in Cundinamarca. A large part of its economy depends on coal extraction, an activity that generates employment but also permanently exposes workers to risks associated with cave-ins, explosions, and gas buildup.
After the accident, mining activity in the area was virtually paralyzed. Workers from nearby mines expressed concern about safety conditions and called for greater oversight by authorities. For many, the explosion was not an isolated incident but rather the result of structural problems that are repeated in different regions of the country.
The tragedy also drew attention to the informality that persists in the sector and to the need to strengthen state supervision, especially in underground operations where risks are greater and the consequences of a failure can be deadly.
En la mina Mata Siete, ubicada en la vereda Peñas del municipio de #Guachetá, en límites con el departamento de Boyacá, se produjo una explosión que dejó a seis mineros atrapados.
La alta acumulación de gases al interior de la mina, sumado a la cantidad de material que…
— Jorge Emilio Rey Ángel (@JorgeEmilioRey) February 6, 2026
Rescue operation and official response
Following the explosion, an emergency operation was launched involving firefighters, mine rescue personnel, the National Police, and officials from the Guacheta Mayor’s Office. A unified command post was set up at the site to coordinate the efforts and ensure the safety of the more than 40 rescuers taking part in the rescue operations.
According to reports from the National Mining Agency (ANM), the initial priority was to control the buildup of gases and stabilize conditions inside the mine before allowing specialized personnel to enter. The work progressed slowly due to the high risk posed by the underground environment, which required the application of strict protocols to prevent another tragedy.
The ANM announced the opening of an investigation to determine the causes of the accident and to verify whether the operation had the required permits and the mandated safety systems in place. It will also assess whether there were failures in technical controls or violations of labor and environmental regulations.
Local authorities said the mine will be closed as a preventive measure while investigations are carried out and the necessary technical inspections are conducted. At the same time, support has been provided to the victims’ families, who are awaiting the recovery of the bodies and clarification of what happened.
🔍 Labores de búsqueda y rescate: ventilar la mina, extraer carbón y garantizar seguridad. Nuestro compromiso: la vida y seguridad de los 6 mineros atrapados. Se investigan causas y se tomarán medidas para evitar futuros incidentes.
— AgenciaNaldeMinería (@ANMColombia) February 6, 2026
Mining accidents in Colombia in recent years
The explosion in Guacheta adds to a long list of mining accidents recorded in Colombia in recent years. According to official figures and press reports, between 2015 and 2025, nearly 1,000 people have lost their lives in emergencies related to cave-ins, methane gas explosions, flooding, and structural failures in underground shafts. The years 2020, 2021, and 2022 were the most critical of this period, with a total of 153, 148, and 146 deaths, respectively, in mining-related accidents.
Departments such as Cundinamarca, Antioquia, Boyaca, and Norte de Santander account for a large share of these incidents, many of them associated with coal mining. Although in some cases the mines were operating legally, in others they were informal sites or had serious deficiencies in their safety systems.
Despite regulatory advances and formalization programs promoted by the state, accidents continue to occur frequently. Mining safety experts warn that oversight remains insufficient and that economic pressure leads many operators to neglect essential protocols.
Each new accident reopens the debate over the responsibility of the state, companies, and mining operators. Meanwhile, the death toll continues to rise, and mining communities keep paying the highest price for an activity that, despite its economic importance, remains one of the most dangerous in the country.