June 13, 2021 - The bodies of seven miners were found on Saturday after an explosion in a coal mine in the Colombian department of Boyaca, bringing the death toll to nine, local authorities reported.

Three workers were rescued and the other two bodies were found on Friday.

The director of the National Mining Agency (ANM), Juan Miguel Duran, sent his condolences to the families of those who died in the mine, which is located near the municipality of Socha.

"We deeply regret the deaths of the nine miners trapped in the Socha mine, Boyaca. (We send our) solidarity to their families and we wish a speedy recovery for the three miners rescued alive. To the mining rescue team and relief organizations, thank you for your work," the official wrote on Twitter.