Six security contractors working for Canadian-listed miner Continental Gold have been killed in an explosion at an illegal gold mine in central Colombia.
The explosion happened on Friday in the Buritica municipality of Antioquia province when the contractors surprised a group of illegal miners in a shaft they were inspecting, Continental said. One of the seven contractors survived.
Illegal mining is widespread in Colombia and accidents and civil unrest around mines are not uncommon.
"The contractors were performing routine underground inspections of a government-closed illegal mine," Continental said in a statement on its website.
"Upon entering the underground mine, the contractors were accosted by illegal miners, followed by a subsequent explosion," Continental said.
