Bogota - XINHUA
At least three workers were killed on Tuesday during the explosion of a gold mine in a rural area of Novita municipality, Colombia's northwest department of Choco, local media reported.
The authorities announced that they've started investigation to find out the causes of the accident.
Benigno Moya, Choco's director of risk management, confirmed to local daily El Espectador the death of three workers from the mine, adding that they still do not know if there are more workers injured during the explosion.
"I talked to the mayor of Novita and he confirmed that three miners were killed, but he did not explain what caused the explosion," Moya told local radio station Caracol Radio.
The victims were identified as Juan Clemente Mosquera, 24, William David Asprilla, 28, and Garlin Mosquera, 22.
According to El Espectador, rescue work continues on the site of the accident, while two other workers allegedly disappeared.