Cheers and applause rang out in the small Colombian town of Segovia on Wednesday as 23 miners emerged, one by one, from the depths of the La Reliquia gold mine. After spending a harrowing 43 hours trapped underground following a mine collapse, the workers were greeted by relieved colleagues, anxious families, and local officials, marking the end of a tense rescue operation that had gripped the nation.
The ordeal began late Monday night, September 22, 2025, when a section of the La Reliquia mine, located about four hours from Medellin in the northwestern Antioquia department, collapsed, trapping the miners some 80 meters (262 feet) below the surface. According to the Associated Press, the miners were met with applause as they emerged from the mine shaft on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, visibly exhausted but alive.
Video footage shared by Colombia’s mining agency captured the emotional scene: mud-covered miners, still wearing their helmets, climbing out of the shaft to the cheers of their colleagues above ground. The agency posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, "The rescue operation continues," alongside a photo of the rescued workers. For many in Segovia and across Colombia, these images brought a sense of relief after nearly two days of uncertainty and fear.
"It was a moment of hope and solidarity," said an official from the mining agency, who described the rescue as a coordinated effort involving local authorities, the mine’s operators, and emergency crews. The La Reliquia mine is run by a local cooperative on behalf of Canada’s Aris Mining Corporation, a detail confirmed by AFP. While mining accidents are sadly frequent in Colombia, they usually occur at unlicensed or illegal sites. This time, the crisis unfolded at a legal, regulated operation—a fact that added to the shock and urgency of the response.
Throughout the ordeal, the trapped miners received food, water, and oxygen, delivered through narrow shafts by rescue teams. Communication lines remained open thanks to a wired phone system that allowed the miners to speak with both their families and the rescuers coordinating their eventual escape. The mine’s ventilation system, crucial for survival in such situations, continued to function, preventing the buildup of deadly gases and providing the men with fresh air.
As the hours ticked by, concern for the miners’ wellbeing grew. Yet, the rescue operation pressed on, with authorities and experts working around the clock. By Wednesday morning, seven miners had already been brought to the surface, according to a report by AFP. The remaining sixteen were expected to follow within hours—a hope that was realized later that day when all 23 were safely rescued.
The successful operation stood in stark contrast to a tragedy that had unfolded just days earlier in another part of the country. On Sunday, September 21, 2025, seven miners trapped in an illegal gold mine in southwest Colombia were found dead. That incident occurred in a region notorious for unregulated mining and the presence of guerrilla groups involved in both gold extraction and cocaine trafficking. The juxtaposition of these two events has reignited national debate about mine safety, regulation, and the dangers facing Colombia’s miners—whether they work in legal or illegal operations.
Mining has long played a central role in Colombia’s economy, particularly in regions like Antioquia, where gold extraction provides jobs but also brings significant risks. According to the Associated Press, accidents in the country’s mines are not uncommon, especially in illegal sites where safety standards are often ignored. The tragedy in southwest Colombia underscored the deadly consequences of such neglect, while the La Reliquia rescue highlighted the importance of regulation, preparedness, and rapid emergency response.
For the families of the rescued miners, the past 43 hours were an emotional rollercoaster. Many gathered at the mine entrance, waiting anxiously for news, clutching photos of their loved ones or holding hands in silent prayer. When the first miners surfaced, the sense of relief was palpable. Some family members wept openly, while others rushed forward to embrace the exhausted workers as they emerged into the daylight.
The rescue operation itself was a logistical challenge. Emergency crews had to navigate unstable tunnels and shifting debris, all while ensuring that further collapses did not endanger either the trapped men or the rescuers themselves. According to the mining agency, the ability to maintain communication and provide essential supplies made a critical difference. "We were able to keep in touch with the miners and ensure they had what they needed to survive," an agency spokesperson explained. "That gave us the time and information we needed to plan a safe extraction."
Local officials and representatives from Aris Mining Corporation were quick to praise the efforts of the rescue teams. "This was a testament to the dedication and professionalism of everyone involved," one official said. "It shows what can be achieved when we work together and prioritize safety above all else." The company has pledged to review safety protocols at La Reliquia and across its operations in Colombia, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Despite the positive outcome in Segovia, the broader issue of mining safety in Colombia remains unresolved. While legal mines like La Reliquia are subject to oversight and regulation, vast swathes of the country remain home to illegal operations—often controlled by criminal groups—where workers face extreme dangers. The recent deaths in the southwest have prompted calls for renewed government action, both to crack down on illegal mining and to support safer, more sustainable practices in the legal sector.
For now, the focus in Segovia is on recovery and gratitude. The rescued miners are undergoing medical checks but are expected to make a full recovery. Their story, broadcast across Colombia and beyond, has become a symbol of hope and resilience—a reminder of the risks miners face and the extraordinary efforts required to bring them home safely when disaster strikes.
As the dust settles at La Reliquia, families and colleagues are taking a moment to celebrate. But the echoes of recent tragedies elsewhere in Colombia serve as a sobering reminder: in a country where gold glitters beneath the earth, the true cost of mining is often measured in human lives. The challenge now is to ensure that every miner, wherever they work, has the chance to return home safely at the end of the day.