At least 27 workers killed in remote Peruvian gold mine fire

In a remote region of southern Peru, a fire at the La Esperanza 1 gold mine has claimed the lives of at least 27 workers, marking one of the worst mining disasters in the country’s recent history. The grieving families of the victims have congregated near the mine, anxiously waiting for updates on their loved ones.

The cause of the fire has been confirmed as a short circuit, which subsequently caused an explosion. The local media reported that the explosion set alight the wooden supports within the mine, located in the town of Yanaquihua. The victims, who were working 100 metres underground, have yet to be recovered as the rescue teams are working to stabilise the mine before extracting the bodies.

As of now, there have been no reports of survivors from the mine, and the exact number of workers underground during the time of the fire remains unconfirmed. Yanaquihua’s mayor, James Casquino, stated that the most likely cause of death for the majority of miners would be asphyxiation and burns.

With Peru functioning as Latin America’s largest gold producer, this incident highlights the recent string of mining accidents in the country. In 2022 alone, there have been 39 reported deaths in mining-related incidents, as per the mining and energy ministry’s data. In 2020, an additional four miners lost their lives as a result of an Arequipa mine collapse.

The gold mine involved in this tragedy is operated by Minera Yanaquihua, a legal enterprise active for 23 years in Peru. Despite this, the region is notorious for its numerous illegal mining operations. The incident has prompted responses from the country’s interior and defence ministries, who are currently focused on recovering and transporting the bodies of the victims.

As the global demand for silver, copper, zinc, tin, lead, and molybdenum continues to grow, Peru remains the second-largest producer of these elements worldwide. Consequently, the nation’s economy relies heavily on mining, which contributes to over 8% of its GDP. However, this most recent disaster highlights the inherent risks and dangers involved in the mining industry, raising crucial questions about worker safety and protection measures in Peru and beyond.