Twelve miners were trapped underground after their coalpit in northwestern Colombia was flooded on Thursday afternoon, and rescue efforts were under way.
The mine, located in the rural area of Antioquia department, has a depth of 450 meters and some 5,000 cubic meters of water might have entered the pit, according to the El Tiempo daily.
Local authorities said 12 miners were working in the coalpit when the flooding happened.
"Two rescue experts went into the mine and gave a report on the conditions, and we are now programming the rescue operations," Carlos Maria Usma, a local mining official, was quoted as saying.
"We need to activate the electricity and a 2,100-meters hose," added the official.
Local authorities said the coal mine has all the legal permits valid and the workers are insured.