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Colombia mine gas blast kills 18 Colombia mine gas blast kills 18
(20 minutes later)
A gas explosion at a coal mine in north-eastern Colombia has killed at least 18 miners.A gas explosion at a coal mine in north-eastern Colombia has killed at least 18 miners.
Officials said they were trying to reach another 14 men who were trapped underground, but their efforts were being hampered by the presence of gas.Officials said they were trying to reach another 14 men who were trapped underground, but their efforts were being hampered by the presence of gas.
"It would be a miracle if they were alive," the head of the rescue attempt told Reuters news agency."It would be a miracle if they were alive," the head of the rescue attempt told Reuters news agency.
The mine is located near the town of San Roque in Norte de Santander state. The La Preciosa mine is located near the town of San Roque in Norte de Santander state.
The rescue effort resumed early on Sunday after being suspended overnight.The rescue effort resumed early on Sunday after being suspended overnight.
The blast on Saturday was caused by "some spark and the gas that was inside", Fernando Rosales, Norte de Santander's civil defence chief said .The blast on Saturday was caused by "some spark and the gas that was inside", Fernando Rosales, Norte de Santander's civil defence chief said .
Colombia's civil defence authorities appealed on national radio for a gas extractor to help remove large quantities of trapped methane.Colombia's civil defence authorities appealed on national radio for a gas extractor to help remove large quantities of trapped methane.
Norte de Santander is an area contested by left-wing rebels and far-right paramilitary militias fighting a decades-old guerrilla war.Norte de Santander is an area contested by left-wing rebels and far-right paramilitary militias fighting a decades-old guerrilla war.
In 2001, a gas explosion in northern Colombia caused part of a coal mine to collapse, killing 15 workers underground.In 2001, a gas explosion in northern Colombia caused part of a coal mine to collapse, killing 15 workers underground.
In 1997, 16 miners were buried alive after a blast at coal mine in the same region in what was the country's worst mine disaster.In 1997, 16 miners were buried alive after a blast at coal mine in the same region in what was the country's worst mine disaster.