At least 21 die in Colombia coal mine explosion, officials say

At least 21 people died from an explosion in a coal mine in central Colombia after 10 missing miners were found dead, authorities confirmed on Thursday. 

Tuesday’s explosion, caused by accumulated gas in the coal mines, affected several adjoining coal mines in the rural area of Sutatausa, about 46 miles (75 kilometers) north of Bogota. 

Cundinamarca Governor Nicolas Garcia reported on Wednesday that at least 11 miners had died in the blast, while ten others remained trapped 2,300 to 3,000 feet (700 to 900 meters) underground and there were ongoing efforts to rescue them. 

"I have been in communication with Governor Nicolas Garcia, who just informed me that despite all the efforts of rescue teams, unfortunately, 21 people lost their lives in the tragic accident in Sutatausa," Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on Twitter. “All my solidarity to their families.”  

 "Each worker's death is not only a business failure but also a social and government failure,” Petro added, promising to shift the country from oil and coal to renewable energy. 

The mine’s activities were suspended and an investigation into the cause of the explosion will be conducted before reopening the operation, the national mining agency said. 

Serious accidents related to coal mining are not uncommon in Colombia.

Last year alone, there were at least 117 accidents that resulted in 146 deaths, according to the national mining agency. The deadliest accident recently took place in June 2010, when 73 miners died in an explosion.