Landslide at Illegal Gold Mine Kills 13 in Colombia The devastating landslide that claimed the lives of 13 people at an illegal gold mine in Colombia is a stark reminder of the human cost of this illicit activity.
The tragedy highlights the complex web of factors driving individuals to engage in hazardous work and contributing to the prevalence of such activities.
The History and Extent of Illegal Mining in Colombia Colombia's history with mining dates back to the Spanish colonial era, but gold became a major commodity only in the 1990s.