Bolivia, satrata. The clash of two groups of miners fighting for gold. Killed

In the Bolivian city of Sorata – about 150 kilometers north of the capital of the country, La Paz – a clash between two groups of miners dealing with gold mining. According to the media, there was a shooting and a dynamite explosion.

At least six people were killed on Thursday in a clash between two groups of miners fighting for small gold deposits in the west of Bolivia – said a representative of one of these groups Johnny Silva.

The clash took place in the morning of local time in the city of Sorata, about 150 kilometers north of La Paz – according to preliminary police findings.

Shooting and dynamite explosion

– They blew up the machines with dynamite, even a tank with diesel oil. So far six people were killed, and the next ones are missing – described Silva, a representative of the Hijos de Ingenio cooperative, quoted by the Reuters agency.

According to the Correo del Sur, miners used explosives and firearms. The commander of the local police Gunther Agudo told journalists that members of Hijos de Ingenio and another cooperative, Senor de Mayo, participated in the clash. There was a “explosion of great strength” – added Agudo.

In Bolivia, the mining activity is divided into three sectors: state, private and controlled by cooperatives. The latter were criticized for illegal mining harming the environment and causing conflicts between groups of miners and disputes with rural communities.