A violent confrontation between two factions of Bolivian miners competing for access to small gold deposits resulted in six fatalities and several individuals reported missing, according to a representative from a mining cooperative on Thursday.
The altercation began early in the morning in Sorata, located 150 kilometers north of La Paz, as indicated by an initial report from the Bolivian Police.
The clash also led to significant damage, prompting the deployment of police and firefighters to the scene.
“They detonated machinery with dynamite, including a diesel tank. Currently, six individuals are confirmed dead, with others unaccounted for,” stated Jhonny Silva, a representative of the Hijos de Ingenio Mining Cooperative.
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The conflict involved the Senor de Mayo mining cooperative and the Hijos de Ingenio cooperative, as reported by departmental police commander Gunther Agudo, who noted that the clash resulted in a large explosion.
In Bolivia, the mining industry is divided into three sectors: state-owned, private, and cooperative. The cooperative sector has faced criticism for illegal mining practices that damage the environment and lead to ongoing disputes with other miners and local communities.
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