Survivors unlikely after mine collapse

BOGOTA, (AP):

Authorities have given up hope of finding alive 13 missing miners trapped under 20 metres of heavy debris after a gold mine collapsed in southwest Colombia.

"I pray to God for survivors, but it's impossible," said Eduardo Grijalba, mayor of the rural town where the tragedy took place last Wednesday night.

The bodies of three people were pulled from the rubble on Thursday, but since then rescue workers have been unable to dig to where the men were trapped.

Mining accidents are common in Colombia, especially at wildcat mines like this one in areas dominated by criminal gangs.