A fire followed by an explosion in a remote gold mine in southern Peru killed at least 27 workers during an overnight shift Saturday.
Local Peruvian authorities said that a short circuit may have sparked the fire at the La Esperanza 1 mine about 100 meters below the surface in the Arequipa region.
The Yanaquihua Company that operates the mine said that 175 workers were safely evacuated after the fire.
The Public Ministry of Arequipa’s Fiscal District said in a statement that investigators were working to clarify the circumstances of the accident.
“During the investigation, the Prosecutor’s Office will determine the cause of the tragic event and the responsibilities of those involved,” the statement said.
News of the fire came out Sunday after police gathered information and determined the identities of the victims.
According to data from Peru’s Ministry of Energy and Mines Saturday’s gold mine accident was the country’s single deadliest in more than two decades.
Peru is South America’s top gold producer and mining is a key industry for the country.
In 2022, 38 people were killed in mining accidents around the country, highlighting safety concerns in Latin American mining.
Peru had its deadliest year in 2002 when 73 people died in several different mining accidents.
-ag
