YANAQUIHUA: According to authorities in Arequipa region of Peru, a fire at a remote gold mine in southern Peru claimed the lives of at least 27 workers on Sunday as bereaved family members gathered close to the scene in anticipation of word of their loved ones.
One of the worst mining tragedies in the region of South America's recent history resulted from a fire that was started by a short circuit and soon spread to one of the tunnels.
The La Esperanza 1 mine fire in the Arequipa region was started by a short circuit, according to the police and public prosecutor's office.
Public prosecutor Giovanni Matos told the media that there were "27 dead inside the mine."
According to initial reports by local media, the fire broke out on Saturday following an explosion at a mine in the isolated province of Condesuyos, which is around 10 hour's drive from Arequipa, the region's capital.
The wooden supports inside the mine in Yanaquihua in southern Peru caught fire due to the explosion.
As reported by local media, the victims were at a depth of 100 meters underground. After authorities had acquired information about individuals who died, the fire's news was only made public on Sunday. Prior to removing the victims' remains, rescue crews were working to secure the mine.
There have been no reports of survivors, and it is unclear how many individuals were inside the mine when it caught fire. The majority of the miners would have perished from asphyxiation and burning, according to James Casquino, mayor of Yanaquihua. Before rescue crews stopped working at dusk on Sunday, 12 dead had been found, according to a statement from the police.
The mining industry contributes more than 8% of GDP to Peru's economy, which is the leading producer of gold and copper in Latin America.The corporation has 23 years of experience running mines in Peru. According to the Mining and energy ministry, 39 people perished in mining-related accidents last year.
Official sources state that Peru is the second-largest producer of silver, copper, and zinc in the world. It also ranks first in Latin America for the production of molybdenum, tin, zinc, and lead.
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