Peru Gold Mine Fire Kills 27, Country's Worst Mining Accident in Decades

In the worst mining accident in decades, a gold mine fire in Peru claimed at least 27 lives, with no more survivors expected to be found.

Officials reported that two individuals were rescued from the blaze, which was caused by an electrical short-circuit inside the La Esperanza mine in the Arequipa region, the BBC reported.

According to local media, about 30 specialized officers are en route to the La Esperanza mine site to secure the area before commencing recovery operations.

On Saturday, photos and videos captured flames and smoke billowing from the Peru gold mine, where miners were reportedly working between 80 to 100 meters below ground when the fire broke out due to an electrical short-circuit.

The Peru mine, operated by Yanaquihua, a small-scale firm, has not yet commented on the incident, according to Reuters.

Giovanni Matos, a public prosecutor, confirmed the deaths of 27 miners from the Peru gold mine fire and emphasized the need to secure the area to recover the bodies.

Victims' Relatives Barred From The Area

The regional government stated that the nearest police station was located 90 minutes away from the isolated site, which complicated the emergency response.

Relatives of the missing miners arrived at the scene on Sunday morning, as reported by the Peruvian newspaper La República, but were not allowed access to the site.

This latest mining accident is the deadliest in Peru since 2000, according to data from Peru's Ministry of Energy and Mines, per DW.

With an annual production of over 100 tons, Peru is the top global gold producer, contributing to about 4% of the world's total output.

Peru's mining sector experiences numerous fatalities each year, typically caused by multiple minor incidents.

Tags

Peru, Gold, Fire, World