Crews rescue 18 miners trapped in Colombia
The workers -- who were trapped underground for about 18 hours because of an equipment failure -- walked out of the mine one by one in blue jumpsuits and yellow helmets.
They were greeted with cheers and hugs from colleagues above ground, who gave them energy drinks, TV footage showed.
The workers became trapped on Thursday in a mine in the town of Remedios in Antioquia department.
The mayor of Remedios said in a message sent to the government that the mine was apparently unlicensed.
Yarley Erasmo Marin, a representative of a local miners' association, told AFP earlier that a mechanical failure caused the collapse of a structure designed to prevent landslides, blocking the mine's main exit.
Images released by the National Mining Agency showed rescuers with flashlights during their search efforts.
The area around Remedios has a strong mining tradition.
Gold extracted in the region is known to sometimes finance armed groups such as the Gulf Clan, a cartel also involved in cocaine trafficking.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
27-07-2025
- France 24
WHO says malnutrition reaching 'alarming levels' in Gaza
"Malnutrition is on a dangerous trajectory in the Gaza Strip, marked by a spike in deaths in July," the WHO said in a statement. Of the 74 recorded malnutrition-related deaths in 2025, 63 had occurred in July -- including 24 children under five, one child aged over five, and 38 adults, it added. "Most of these people were declared dead on arrival at health facilities or died shortly after, their bodies showing clear signs of severe wasting," the UN health agency said. "The crisis remains entirely preventable. Deliberate blocking and delay of large-scale food, health, and humanitarian aid has cost many lives." Nearly one in five children under five in Gaza City is now acutely malnourished, the WHO said, citing its Nutrition Cluster partners. It said the percentage of children aged six to 59 months suffering from acute malnutrition had tripled in the city since June, making it the worst-hit area in the Palestinian territory. In Khan Yunis and middle Gaza, those rates have doubled in less than a month, it added. "These figures are likely an underestimation due to the severe access and security constraints preventing many families from reaching health facilities," the WHO said. Israel on Sunday began a limited "tactical pause" in military operations to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis. But the WHO called for sustained efforts to "flood" the Gaza Strip with diverse, nutritious food, and for the expedited delivery of therapeutic supplies for children and vulnerable groups, plus essential medicines and supplies. "This flow must remain consistent and unhindered to support recovery and prevent further deterioration", the Geneva-based agency said.
France 24
20-07-2025
- France 24
Sunbears to elephants: life at a Thai wildlife hospital
Yong, a pig-tailed macaque rescued from a life harvesting coconuts, was being treated at Thailand's only NGO-run wildlife hospital. He is one of dozens of animals treated each month at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) facility. Patients range from delicate sugar gliders intended as pets, to some of the hefty rescued elephants that roam WFFT's expansive facility in Phetchaburi, southwest of Bangkok. The wide variety can be a challenge, said vet Siriporn Tippol. "If we can't find the right equipment, we have to DIY use what we already have or modify based on the specifications we need." She described strapping an extension handle onto a laryngoscope designed for cats and dogs so it could be used during surgery on bears and tigers. A treatment whiteboard gives a sense of an average day: cleaning a wound on one elephant's tail, assessing another's possible cataract and treating a Malayan sunbear's skin condition. Yong was in quarantine after rescue -- coconut monkeys often carry tuberculosis or other infectious diseases -- and needed a full health check. But first, he had to be sedated, with a tranquilliser dart blown from a white tube into his left haunch. Before long he was slumped over and ready to be carried to hospital. Blood was taken, an IV line placed and then it was X-ray time, to look for signs of broken bones or respiratory illness. Next was a symbolic moment: vets cut off the metal rings around the monkey's neck that once kept him connected to a chain. The operating theatre was the final stop, for a vasectomy to allow Yong to join a mixed troop of rescued monkeys without risk of breeding. Out-of-hand hobby The light-filled hospital only opened this month, replacing a previous "tiny" clinic, said WFFT founder Edwin Wiek. "I've always dreamed about having a proper medical facility," he told AFP, over the sound of nearby tigers roaring in grassy enclosures. With over 900 animals in WFFT's care and a regular stream of emergency arrivals, "we needed really a bigger place, more surgery rooms, a treatment room," he said. Wiek founded WFFT in 2001 with two macaques and a gibbon. It now spans 120 hectares (297 acres) and houses 60 species. "That hobby got out of hand," he laughed. He has long advocated for stronger wildlife protections in a country well-known as a wildlife trafficking hub in part because of its location and strong transport links. Wiek once had tendentious relations with Thai authorities, even facing legal action, but more recently has become a government advisor. WFFT is now a force multiplier for the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). "In many cases, when wild animals from elephants and tigers to macaques are found injured and displaced, we coordinate with WFFT, who assist in rehabilitation and medical care," said DNP wildlife conservation director Chalerm Poommai. One of WFFT's current campaigns focuses on the estimated thousands of monkeys like Yong trained to pick coconuts on plantations in southern Thailand. "The animal welfare issue is horrible," said Wiek. "But another very important point is that these animals actually are taken out of the wild illegally. And that, of course, has a huge impact, negative impact on the survival of the species." WFFT is working with authorities, the coconut industry and exporters to encourage farmers to stop using monkeys, and switch to shorter trees that are easier to harvest. There is also work to do equipping the new hospital. A mobile X-ray unit and specialised blood analysis machine are on Siriporn's wishlist. And Wiek is thinking ahead to his next dream: a forensics lab to trace the origins of the animals confiscated from traffickers. "The laws are there, we lack the enforcement," he said.
France 24
18-07-2025
- France 24
Crews rescue 18 miners trapped in Colombia
"They were all found to be in good health," the National Mining Agency said on X after the 12-hour emergency rescue operation in northwest Colombia. The workers -- who were trapped underground for about 18 hours because of an equipment failure -- walked out of the mine one by one in blue jumpsuits and yellow helmets. They were greeted with cheers and hugs from colleagues above ground, who gave them energy drinks, TV footage showed. The workers became trapped on Thursday in a mine in the town of Remedios in Antioquia department. The mayor of Remedios said in a message sent to the government that the mine was apparently unlicensed. Yarley Erasmo Marin, a representative of a local miners' association, told AFP earlier that a mechanical failure caused the collapse of a structure designed to prevent landslides, blocking the mine's main exit. Images released by the National Mining Agency showed rescuers with flashlights during their search efforts. The area around Remedios has a strong mining tradition. Gold extracted in the region is known to sometimes finance armed groups such as the Gulf Clan, a cartel also involved in cocaine trafficking.
