At least nine miners are feared dead in blasts at two separate coal mines in central Colombia. The blasts are believed to be caused by methane gas explosions. The Colombian Institute of Geology and Mining said two people died at a mine in the municipality of Lenguazaque. In another blast in a coal mine in Guacheta municipalty, rescuers recovered one body while the fate of another six remains unknown. The miners were trapped in a tunnel and apparently suffered from lack of oxygen and excessive amounts of carbon dioxide. In June, 73 miners died at a north-western coal mine following an explosion due to high methane gas levels. It was the worst mining disaster in Colombia since July 1977 when 86 workers died in similar circumstances.