Peru is the largest gold-producing country in the world. While 38 people lost their lives in all mining accidents in 2022, this year 27 people lost their lives in just one accident. Peru’s largest mining incident occurred in 2002, in which 73 people died.
The local government said in a statement that a short-circuit started the fire in the southern region of Arequipa on Saturday morning. Local prosecutor Giovanni Matos told local television on Sunday that the Yanaquihua police station had confirmed the death toll to be 27.
“We express our solidarity with the families of the miners killed in the fire at the Yanquihua mine shaft in the Arequipa region,” Peru’s Council of Ministers tweeted in Spanish.
Peru’s president said in a statement on Twitter that ministries were working to rescue and relocate the bodies. In addition, the Peruvian government will provide all necessary assistance to the regional government and municipality of Condesuyos.