Puno, Peru—A tunnel collapse at a mining operation in the Puno region left four workers dead early Friday. The incident occurred deep underground, trapping the miners as structural supports failed during extraction work.

Emergency teams reached the site hours after the collapse, but the instability of the tunnel made recovery operations dangerous. Heavy machinery and manual shoring were required to access the affected area.

The region is known for both formal and informal mining operations. This particular site is currently under evaluation by the Ministry of Energy and Mines to determine its operational status.

Local authorities confirmed the four fatalities late in the day. The victims were employees involved in active ore extraction when the ceiling of the tunnel gave way without warning.

Rescue workers are continuing to stabilize the mine entrance to ensure no further collapses occur. The families of the deceased have gathered near the site, awaiting the recovery of the bodies.

Safety standards in Puno’s mining sector have been a frequent topic of public debate. The government has pledged to conduct a thorough audit of the site’s historical safety records and structural integrity.

Operations at the mine remain suspended. Prosecutors are currently interviewing site supervisors to understand what precautions were in place before the incident happened.

The exact cause of the collapse remains under investigation. Engineers are analyzing geological reports to see if external factors contributed to the structural failure of the tunnel.