Gold Mine Fire in Peru Kills 27

Gold Mine Fire in Peru Kills 27
Relatives of miners wait at the entrance of the La Esperanza mine, where at least 27 people died in the Yanaquihua district of Arequipa, southern Peru, on May 7, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
Reuters
Updated:

LIMA—A fire in a small gold mine in southern Peru has left 27 people dead, authorities said on Sunday, in the country’s single deadliest mining accident in more than two decades.

In a statement, the local government said a short-circuit sparked the fire in the early morning hours of Saturday in the southern region of Arequipa. Images on local media and on social media showed dark plumes of smoke pouring out of the site.