4 dead over gas inhalation at coal mine in Colombia

Four people died after inhaling toxic gases inside a coal mine in central Colombia, local authorities said Saturday.



The incident occurred at the El Diamante mine in Socha city of Boyaca region. Socha Mayor Oscar Hurtado said there was no explosion and that the deaths were caused by gas accumulation inside the mine.



The victims included three male miners and a woman who worked in occupational safety and health, Hurtado told reporters. Rescue teams entered the mine but found the victims with no sign of life.



Authorities said it took several hours to ventilate the site before the bodies could be recovered, and an investigation is underway.