The miners are “presumed alive,” the ministry of mines and energy said, without detailing the cause of the incident.

Minister Edwin Palma said on X that all emergency protocols had been activated to locate them.

Yarley Erasmo Marin, a representative of a local miners’ association, told AFP that a “mechanical failure” caused a collapse of a structure designed to prevent landslides, blocking the mine’s main exit.

The mayor of Remedios claimed in a message sent to the government that “it appears” the mine was illegally exploited.

Images released by the state-run national mining agency showed rescuers with flashlights during their search efforts.

The region in Antioquia has a strong mining tradition.

Gold extracted in the area is known to sometimes finance armed groups such as the Gulf Clan, a cartel also involved in cocaine trafficking.

Coal mine accidents are common in Colombia, particularly in the central region where they claim dozens of lives each year.