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Gold mining impacts and accidents in Nariño

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2026-08-20 17:14 UTC → 2026-08-20 22:29 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Environmental defenders and social leaders in Nariño have raised alarms regarding a proposal by Governor Luis Alfonso Escobar that could increase illegal gold mining. Leaders Edgar Casanova and Jorge Castro warned that such activities cause irreversible damage, including deforestation, landslides, and habitat loss. They specifically highlighted the risk of mercury and toxic chemical contamination in rivers, noting that “En Nariño, la explotación de oro puede causar graves daños a los ecosistemas del departamento…” and that mercury use poses severe neurological and developmental health risks to local communities. Following these environmental concerns, a fatal incident occurred at an artisanal gold mine in the Puerto Rico sector of Policarpa. On a Wednesday afternoon, a collapse at an unlicensed open-pit mine resulted in at least 13 deaths and seven injuries. Gabriel Ocaña, director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) in Nariño, reported that the tragedy involved a slope collapse or explosion that trapped workers. Among the deceased are four members of a single indigenous Quillasinga family. Rescue operations involving local residents, firefighters from Pasto, Policarpa, and El Tambo, and heavy machinery continued through the ~~night.~~ night and into Thursday morning. While some reports suggest a possible explosion, others point to a landslide potentially caused by the rising waters of the Patía River. The mining area is located in a remote, mountainous region known to be an area of operation for the Franco Benavides column of the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), a FARC dissident group. This disaster follows a significant 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10.

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