At least 27 people are missing in Peru, after a fire broke out in a mine this Saturday, apparently caused by a short circuit, the Regional Government of Arequipa reported in a statement.
The accident occurred at the Yanaquihua Esperanza I mine, belonging to the Arequipa province of Condesuyos, in the early hours of this Saturday. Apparently, "there would have been a short circuit that caused a fire inside the tunnel, which would have put the lives of the workers at risk," according to a statement.
It was the owner of the mine 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.
The Government of Peru confirmed the accident on Saturday night, of which the number of deaths is unknown at the moment.
"Police personnel are in the Yanaquihua district to support the rescue efforts of the bodies of miners who died inside a tunnel in the province of Condesuyos, Arequipa," the Ministry of the Interior said on Twitter.
The Peruvian Executive added that police officers from the decentralized basic unit of the Peruvian National Police (Depincri) and from the local police station are carrying out the corresponding procedures, awaiting the representative of the Public Ministry.
Images disseminated on social networks show a large column of black smoke coming from the mine, and local media indicated that at the time of the short circuit there were personnel working at a depth of about 80 meters.
The statement from the regional institution advanced that, in addition to the 27 missing, there are three injured rescuers.
The mine belongs to Yanaquihua S.A.C., a formal company that brings together small mining producers dedicated to the exploitation of gold and other metals, the company indicates on its website.
