A landslide triggered by local residents digging for rumored deposits of gold killed at least 21 people and injured 26 more Saturday at an abandoned mine in southern Colombia, authorities said.
Cauca provincial Gov. Juan Jose Chaux said the search for survivors at the mine, located near the town of Suarez, 220 miles southwest of BogotГЎ, was suspended Saturday evening because of darkness and bad weather, which made the open-pit mine unsafe.
It was unclear how many people were missing.
Rescuers had been wading waist-deep through the mire, and heavy machinery also worked to remove the mud.
Local residents reportedly had begun digging in the mine after it was reported that gold had been found underground. Rich in resources, but with limited government presence across much of the country, Colombia is home to many such makeshift mines.