Story By: Juan Fenandez Mayes, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
Newsflash/@nicolasgarciab
These images show the rescue operation in the aftermath of an explosion in a Colombian mine – reportedly caused by an accumulation of gas – which left 11 dead.
The incident occurred on Saturday 4th April in a carbon mine in the municipality of Cucunuba in the Ubate province located in the department of Cundinamarca in central Colombia, 55 miles from the capital city of Bogota.
The explosion left 11 miners dead and four injured out of a reported 22 people that were working in the area, according to reports.
Newsflash/@nicolasgarciab 
Newsflash/@nicolasgarciab 
Newsflash/@nicolasgarciab 
Newsflash/@nicolasgarciab
Local media report the four injured men did not show any serious injuries but did present signs of intoxication due to the fumes of the explosion.
Cundinamarca Governor Nicolas Garcia told Spanish newspaper ‘El Pais’ the accident was caused by an “accumulation of gases”.
The likeliest cause is an accumulation of methane gas, according to reports.
Garcia went on to say the miners were legally working despite the coronavirus lockdown in the country as “mining activity was included in the exceptions allowed by the national government”.
Colombia instated a lockdown on Tuesday 24th March to stop the spread of the coronavirus, officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization, after cases of the virus were reported in the country.
Garcia made a statement shortly after the accident saying: “The accident occurred this afternoon in the municipality of Cucunuba where an explosion was reported in the interior of mines which leaves us with the tragic number of 11 people dead and four injured.
“From the government, we will offer their families all of the support they need. The 11 fatal victims were rescued and we have four injured.”
According to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University Colombia has reported 1,485 cases leading to 35 deaths.
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