Several killed in Colombia coal mine blast

Several coal miners were dead and many more were wounded after being trapped at a mine on Wednesday in northeastern Colombia following a blast, local reports said.

Earlier reports said that at least 30 miners were trapped in the La Preciosa mine in North Santander province, and have suggested that the hope of successful rescuing the miners is dim.

The explosion is believed to have been triggered by methane gas accumulation, which has been a major reason for coal mine blasts in the Latin American country over the years. At least five were killed last October in the same mine due to the same reason.

Last November, gas accumulation led to the blasts in two coal mines in central Colombia that killed at least nine; and a similar blast in Amaga town in northwestern Antioquia province claimed some 20 lives in June 2010.

Source: Xinhua