Peruvian municipal officials say three killed in attack on informal mine

According to local authorities, an attack on an informal mine in northern Peru left at least three people dead and seven people missing, according to local officials.

Pataz Mayor Aldo Marino claimed the attack on New Year’s Eve occurred about an hour before midnight in a video shared by Canal N, a Peruvian newspaper, on Thursday.

Three people were killed at a mine entrance, according to information I received from the police, and seven are still missing, Marino said, noting that the figure could reach 15 as more bodies are discovered.

Although details of the incident are still being worked out, informal mining operations are a frequent source of conflict in South America as criminal organizations compete for control.

The most recent incident occurred in the La Libertad department of Vijus in northwest Peru, close to the town of Vijus.

In the same area last May, 13 miners were reported missing by police. Local authorities reacted harshly to the incident, including a 30-day suspension of mining activities and a nighttime curfew.

Lagunas Norte, one of the largest gold mines in the world, is renowned for its gold mines.

In addition, informal mines have grown as rural residents and organized crime groups try to eke out a fortune in the province of Pataz, where recent bloodshed took place.

Police have made two arrests in the wake of the incident on Wednesday, and an investigation is ongoing.

Local prosecutors claimed that 11 shell casings had been recovered at the scene of the attack, according to a Reuters citing local prosecutors.

Poderosa, a mining company, also informed the media that its security personnel had heard the gunfire and that three people had been found dead after stepping into the crime scene.

Numerous informal miners use government-issued REINFO permits to conduct their work.

According to Reuters, the government in July formalized the permits for about 50 000 small-scale miners, allowing about 30 000 to continue operating.