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Colombia mine collapse kills 24 Colombia mine collapse kills 24
(about 3 hours later)
At least 24 Colombians have died and many more are missing after a mine accident in the south-west of the country, officials say. Rescuers in Colombia are trying to find any survivors trapped underground after a mine collapsed killing at least 24 amateur gold prospectors.
Efforts are underway to rescue those thought to be trapped underground. Some 18 people are injured and another 10 are estimated to be missing after the accident near the town of Suarez, about 350km (220 miles) from Bogota.
The gold mine is near the town of Suarez, about 350km (220 miles) from the capital, Bogota. Local residents were mining for gold with few security measures in place.
Local residents were mining for gold with few security measures in place, local radio reported. Rescue efforts have been hampered by the fact that there was no record of how many people had entered the mine.
Local miners Recent torrential rains had weakened the sides of the open cast mine, sparking a landslide of mud and rock on some 50 prospectors.
Rescue efforts have reportedly been hampered by the fact that there was no record of how many people had entered the mine. 'No safety'
"There are still a lot of people to rescue, and we don't know what conditions they're in," a local policeman told AP news agency."There are still a lot of people to rescue, and we don't know what conditions they're in," a local policeman told AP news agency.
"Initially they said there were around 50 people trapped," he added. The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says gold deposits abound in the region but few mining companies venture to operate there because warring factions control much of the country's rural parts.
The small, locally operated mine allows local people to search for gold in the pit during weekends when normal mining operations are suspended. Local residents have taken the opportunity to set up illegal mining operations which respect no safety regulations, according to our correspondent.
In February a gas explosion at a coal mine in north-eastern Colombia killed 32 miners.In February a gas explosion at a coal mine in north-eastern Colombia killed 32 miners.
BBC correspondents say there are few safety measures at the makeshift mines common in much of Colombia.