A gold mine fire in Peru, the country’s deadliest such accident in 20 years, has taken at least 27 lives, authorities reported Sunday.
A short-circuit caused the fire in the La Esperanza mine early Saturday in Peru’s Arequipa region, BBC News reported.
Two people were rescued, but officials said those were the only survivors, according to BBC News. About 30 specialists were en route to secure the mine itself before beginning recovery efforts, according to local media.
The small-scale company that operates the mine, Yanaquihua, did not immediately respond to outlets’ requests for comment. Law enforcement in the southern region confirmed the accident and the casualties.
“It’s been confirmed by the Yanaquihua police station, there are 27 dead,” local prosecutor Giovanni Matos said Sunday, according to Reuters.
The last accident with this many fatalities occurred in 2000, Reuters reported. Peru is the top producer of gold in the world, mining more than 100 metric tons a year, which is 4% of the global supply, and the second-largest producer of copper.
While dozens of people are killed in separate mining accidents annually in Peru, this was the single deadliest one in more than two decades, authorities said.
Smoke and flames could be seen billowing from the hillside in images posted by local media outlets and on social media. The miners were about 330 feet underground when the fire broke out, BBC News reported.
Distance from assistance complicated the response, with the closest police station 90 minutes away, and the closest city hours away, the local police station said in a statement obtained by BBC News.
Peru’s presidency and cabinet offered condolences, solidarity and support for the bereaved and the community.
“We express our condolences to the relatives and the people of Arequipa for the death of the 27 miners,” the presidency tweeted on Sunday, adding that emergency personnel were working on rescue and recovery efforts. “As a Government, we will provide all the necessary support to the regional government and the Municipality of Condesuyos in these moments of pain.”