According to reports, a clash between two mining collectives led to a dynamite explosion at the Yani mining camp in Bolivia, resulting in the deaths of six people and power outages in the nearby town of Sorata.
The mine’s representatives stated that the Hijos de Ingenio Mining Cooperative and the Senor de Mayo cooperative were fighting over access to a gold mining area, and the rival cooperative used dynamite to blow up machinery and a diesel tank.
The Bolivian mining collectives developed as an alternative to state-run and private enterprises, providing jobs to low-income mining workers and enabling self-organization. However, critics argue that these collectives lack safeguards for workers, leading to environmental concerns and deadly clashes over access to mining sites and markets.
In 2012, tensions between COMIBOL and collectives turned violent in La Paz, causing road blockages and a dynamite attack. Thursday’s explosion at the Yani mining camp is a continuation of ongoing conflicts between mining collectives, resulting in fatalities and property damage. Rescue efforts are ongoing.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/4/six-people-dead-after-alleged-dynamite-attack-in-bolivia-gold-mining-clash?traffic_source=rss
