At least 23 workers of a contractor to the Canadian oil company Talisman were kidnapped on Monday by unknown persons in a rural area Vichada Colombian jungle province, sources with the company.

The mass kidnapping occurred in an area of Cumaribo, Vichada department, on the border with Venezuela, when engineers and workers developed seismic and exploration work, the source said.

"They are not direct employees of Talisman, are employees of a contractor, " added the sources. Vichada governor, Juan Carlos Avila, said, in turn, told Caracol Radio that several men broke into a camp and "kidnapped 23 workers. " He explained that currently are in the military, trying to establish the place where the hostages were taken.