Eduardo Grijalba, mayor of the rural town of Santander de Quilichao where the tragedy took place on Wednesday night, said the search effort went on yesterday even though it is practically impossible to survive so long trapped under 20 metres of heavy debris.
The bodies of three dead miners were pulled from the ruble on Thursday.
Mining accidents are common in Colombia, especially at wildcat mines in poverty-stricken areas dominated by criminal gangs.
Less than a week ago, four people were killed inhaling noxious gases following an explosion at a mine in Antioquia province.