5 illegal gold miners killed in Colombia

BOGOTA: A wall of rain-sodden earth collapsed into an illegal, open-air gold mining pit in southwestern Colombia on Friday, killing five miners and injuring 12, authorities said.

Red Cross spokesman Cesur Uruena in Bogota said heavy rains were impeding attempts to land helicopters in the municipality of Santa Barbara de Iscuande in Narino state to evacuate the injured. He put the death toll at five.

"This is completely illegal mining," said the Narino security chief Jaime Rodriguez, adding that Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrillas were active in the area.