Potosí mining fatalities reach 99 in 2026

The death toll from mining accidents in the Potosí department of Bolivia has reached 99 for the year 2026. The latest fatality occurred following an accident at the Nueva Calamarca Mining Cooperative on August 13. The worker was evacuated to the Caja Nacional de Salud for emergency surgery but succumbed to injuries on August 15.

According to the Fuerza Especial de Lucha Contra el Crimen (Felcc), the 99 recorded deaths this year include 89 men, 10 women, and 10 minors under the age of 18. A primary cause of death in these incidents is poisoning from inhaling toxic gases, a phenomenon known as ‘bochorno,’ which occurs when water reacts with exposed minerals to consume oxygen and release lethal vapors.

Authorities note that the rising number of fatalities highlights a crisis in occupational safety and the failure to comply with regulations, including those prohibiting child labor in mines.