India, Oct. 20 -- At least 14 miners died after an unlicensed open-pit gold mine collapsed in a remote area of Colombia's Narino province, regional authorities said.

Seven others were injured in the accident, which occurred on Monday near the town of Santa Barbara de Iscuande, the Narino government said in a statement. Search operations were called off on Monday night.

The provincial government said the incident underscored the dangers of informal mining, noting that two mine collapses in Narino over the past three months had claimed 27 lives.

Located amid dense rainforest, Santa Barbara de Iscuande can be reached only by boat or small aircraft, making it difficult for emergency responders to access the area.

Narino Governor Luis Alfo...