At least 27 people have been confirmed dead in Peru’s deadliest mining accident in over 20 years. A fire broke out in a small gold mine in the Yanaquihua district of Arequipa, southern Peru, caused by a short-circuit, according to the local government. The mine is owned by small-scale firm Yanaquihua, who have not yet released a comment on the incident. Peru is the largest gold producer worldwide and second-largest producer of copper. This accident marks the deadliest since 2000, with 38 fatalities occurring in 2022 and a record 73 deaths in 2002.