Deadly Coal Explosion in Colombia Claims 8 Lives

Eight miners at an underground coal mine in Colombia died Saturday while five remain missing after an underground methane gas explosion, according to the national mining agency.

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The explosion took place on Friday in the Cucunuba municipality in Cundinamarca province, an area where illegal underground coal mining is widespread and accidents are not uncommon. It is still not clear whether the mine has a license.

"There are 14 people affected," the national mining agency said on Twitter. "One injured, eight dead and five still missing."

Authorities have attempted to locate survivors, but chances are slim that anyone will be found alive.

Up to May of this year, 23 miners have died so far, while 124 total died in 2016.

The country's national resources are heavily exploited by international capitalist interests, especially mining industries that have a predatory relationship with communities suffering dispossession and loss of life due to their activities.