Key Facts
—Toll. Fourteen people died and seven were injured, according to the Nariño regional government.
—Where. The El Chambero sector of Santa Bárbara de Iscuandé, a municipality on Colombia’s Pacific coast in Nariño department.
—When. About 8:30 a.m. local time (9:30 a.m. ET) on Monday, 19 October 2026.
—Rescue. Search and rescue has ended, and no one is reported missing, according to the regional government.
—Context. An August collapse at a mine in Policarpa, also in Nariño, killed 13 people, so 27 have died in two collapses since then.
—Power Index Colombia ranks 6th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 51.9 points (October 2026 edition).
A landslide at a gold mine in the southwestern Colombian department of Nariño killed 14 people and injured seven on Monday, 19 October 2026, according to the regional government. It is Colombia’s second deadly mining collapse in Nariño since August, and it shows the dangers of informal gold mining, a trade that feeds global gold supply chains.
The collapse happened at about 8:30 a.m. local time (9:30 a.m. ET) in the El Chambero sector of Santa Bárbara de Iscuandé, a municipality on the Pacific coast. Many reports describe the site as an illegal or informal open-pit mine.
What Happened at the Mine
About 30 people were working at the site when the ground gave way, according to local reports. Residents and rescuers recovered victims with shovels and a backhoe, and some bodies were carried toward the town centre by canoe.
The death toll rose during the day from six to nine and then to 14 as more bodies were found. Nariño’s Peace and Human Rights Secretary, Álex González, said search and rescue had ended with no one missing, and Governor Luis Alfonso Escobar confirmed it.
Official Response
Governor Escobar said: “There are entire families who have lost their lives in this regrettable event”, in comments reported by Colombian media. He asked the national government, the National Mining Agency (ANM) and the Ministry of Mines and Energy to review all pending requests for formalization, the process that lets small miners work under a legal permit.
The Ombudsman’s Office, Colombia’s human rights watchdog, asked for military air support, activation of the hospital network and safe access for humanitarian workers. The area is remote, which complicated the rescue.
A Second Deadly Collapse in Months
In August, a collapse at a mine in the Puerto Rico district of Policarpa, also in Nariño, killed 13 people and injured four, according to El Tiempo. Taken together, the two accidents have killed 27 people.
Informal and illegal mining is common across Colombia’s Pacific region, where remote operations often lack basic safety measures. Mining there is also linked to deforestation and mercury pollution of rivers.
What It Means for You
The disaster shows the safety risks of informal gold mining in Latin America, where metal from unregulated mines can enter global supply chains. Companies and investors with exposure to Colombian gold or regional mining operations may face more questions about sourcing and worker safety.
Travellers should know that Nariño’s Pacific lowlands are remote and hard to reach, as this rescue showed. Check regional advisories before any trip to rural mining areas.
What Is Not Known
The identities of all victims have not been published in the reports we reviewed. The cause beyond the landslide, including excavation methods and recent rainfall, has not been established.
It is not clear who owned or ran the mine, or whether it held permits from the National Mining Agency. We have not seen a court filing, a criminal investigation or an official inspection report.
Sources
Noticias Caracol · Vanguardia · El Tiempo · Infobae Colombia · La FM
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the mine collapse happen?
The collapse happened in the El Chambero sector of Santa Bárbara de Iscuandé, a municipality on the Pacific coast of Nariño department in southwestern Colombia. The site is remote and difficult to reach.
How many people died and how many were injured?
Fourteen people died and seven were injured, according to the Nariño regional government. The toll rose from six to nine to 14 as bodies were recovered.
Was the mine operating legally?
Many reports describe it as an illegal or informal mine, but it is not clear whether it held permits from the National Mining Agency. No official inspection report has been published.
Has the search for victims ended?
Yes, because Nariño’s Peace and Human Rights Secretary, Álex González, said search and rescue ended with no one missing. Governor Luis Alfonso Escobar confirmed it.