Gold Rush's Deadly Toll: Illegal Mining Devastates Peru's Amazon

Illegal mining has surged in Peru's Loreto region due to rising gold prices and increasing poverty, fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of mercury in mining contaminates water sources and poses severe health risks. Criminal gangs from Colombia lead operations in remote areas, making law enforcement efforts challenging.

Illegal mining has surged to alarming levels in Peru's Loreto region, driven by soaring gold prices and increasing poverty exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This illegal activity is heavily reliant on mercury, which contaminates vital water sources such as the Nanay River, threatening the health of local communities who depend on it for drinking and fishing.

The situation is compounded by the involvement of criminal groups from Colombia and other neighboring countries, who exploit local labor to operate makeshift dredgers. These groups often use violence to maintain control, complicating efforts by authorities to curb the illegal mining activities. Satellite images reveal that the number of dredgers in Loreto's rivers has dramatically increased, further highlighting the spread of this epidemic.

Health experts warn of the long-term impacts of mercury exposure, particularly on vulnerable populations like children. While communities like Mishana are actively testing for contamination and raising awareness, comprehensive studies on the health impacts are still lacking. Authorities face significant challenges in enforcing the law due to the remote locations of these mining sites and the advanced warning systems miners use to evade capture.

(With inputs from agencies.)