An unknown number of miners were killed after a suspected fire at a gold mine in Peru, authorities said on Saturday, as police worked to recover the bodies.
As many as 27 miners could have been killed, the local government where the mine is located, in southern Arequipa Province, said in a statement earlier in the day.
The Arequipa Government said the death toll had not been confirmed “because there was no way to communicate by telephone from the mine.”
Photo: AFP / MINERALS AND METALS GROUP
It added that a short circuit could have sparked the deadly fire.
Images by local media and on social media showed dark plumes of smoke pouring out of the site.
The mine is operated by Yanaquihua, a small firm.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
However, the Arequipa Government said it was told the owner of the mine had gone to request help following the incident.
Medical professionals arrived on the scene on Saturday at noon to tend to the injured, who included three rescue workers, the local government added.
Peru is South America’s top gold producer, and mining is a key industry for the country.
Dozens of fatal accidents, largely at small mines, occur every year.
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