Overview
- The National Mining Agency said the explosion on Monday in Sutatausa killed nine workers and injured six.
- Six miners were rescued alive and taken to a regional hospital for treatment.
- The agency said a buildup of gases, including methane, triggered the blast inside the legally operated site.
- Inspectors had visited the mine on April 9 and urged stronger safety controls after detecting hazardous gas levels.
- Authorities are checking gas levels before broader operations resume, a cautious step shaped by frequent ventilation failures and unsafe or illegal mines in the region.