126 deaths in Potosí mines: Prosecutor investigates manslaughter
A miner died from inhalation of toxic gases in the Fiscal Reserve Cooperative, bringing the death toll to 126 in Potosí mining sites since January 2026.
Miner dies from toxic gases in Potosí; 126 victims in cooperative mining operations
The death of a young miner from inhalation of toxic gases in the Esperanza section of the Fiscal Reserve Mining Cooperative raised the figure of workers who died in Potosí mining sites since January 2026 to 126, according to El Deber. The Departmental Prosecutor's Office announced investigations to determine whether the deaths are linked to possible breaches of workplace safety measures.
According to the police report, the worker remained inside the mine whilst his colleagues left to rest. Upon their return, they found him without vital signs. His colleagues transported him to the Cuban-Bolivian hospital in the San Cristóbal area, where medical staff confirmed his death.
The departmental director of the Special Force to Combat Crime (Felcc) in Potosí, Colonel Henry Torrico, clarified that the 126 deaths correspond to workers who lost their lives in different mining sites operated by mining cooperatives in the department.
Prosecutor opens investigation into manslaughter
Departmental prosecutor Pablo Manrique announced that the Public Ministry will open investigations for the alleged commission of the crime of manslaughter. The investigations will seek to identify the owners or those responsible for the mining operations where the deaths occurred and establish whether there were deficiencies in workplace safety conditions.
Manrique indicated that corresponding legal procedures will be applied given the number of deaths recorded in the department. Among this year's victims are also women and adolescents between 16 and 18 years old, according to information released by the Prosecutor's Office.
The investigation will need to determine the circumstances of each case and whether there are criminal liabilities. The new death from gas inhalation once again highlights the risks faced by workers inside Potosí's mining sites.
Source: El Deber