MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

At least 27 miners killed in Peruvian mine fire

There were people working at a depth of 80 meters when the short circuit took place

At least 27 miners were killed Saturday in a mine fire in Arequipa, Peruvian authorities confirmed.

“We express our condolences to the families and the people of Arequipa for the death of the 27 miners, an event that occurred in the sector of Yanaquihua, province of Condesuyos in Arequipa,” the Presidency said on Twitter.

¡Terrible!!!
Rescatan a los 27 mineros que quedaron encerrados en el socavón tras registrarse un incendio en una mina en Condesuyos, Arequipa. Lamentablemente 25 de ellos perdieron la vida asfixiados. pic.twitter.com/k9F7NKtml9

— El DARDO - Noticias (@vekace82_laley) May 7, 2023

The Ministries of the Interior and Defense “have been working since the beginning of this tragedy in the rescue and transfer of the bodies” in the Yanaquihua “Esperanza I” mine, where early Saturday morning a short circuit caused the fire, according to the owner of the mine.

“We will provide all the necessary support to the Regional Government and the Municipality of Condesuyos in these moments of pain,” the statement concluded.

According to local media, relatives of the victims gathered early Sunday at the Yanaquihua police station to ask for information on their loved ones after the authorities had said late Saturday that 27 workers were missing.

It was the mine owner himself who went to the police to report what had happened and ask for help, and immediately ambulances and health and rescue personnel traveled to the mine, which is located in an isolated area.

“Police personnel is in the district of Yanaquihua to support the rescue work of the bodies of miners who died inside a sinkhole in the province of Condesuyos, Arequipa,” the Ministry of Interior said on Twitter.

Images published on social networks show a large column of black smoke coming from the mine, and local media said that, at the time of the short circuit, there were miners working at a depth of 80 meters.

The mine belongs to Yanaquihua S.A.C., a company that brings together small-scale miners dedicated to the exploitation of gold and other metals.