Overview
- Compañía Minera Poderosa said unknown individuals threw a backpack with explosives over the perimeter wall of its Santa María production unit and that the device detonated during the early hours of June 24, 2026.
- Two contract workers suffered auditory injuries, received first aid on site, and were evacuated by emergency teams to Trujillo for specialized medical care.
- The blast caused significant damage to administrative areas, led Poderosa to activate its contingency protocols, and prompted the company to reinforce security and control at the site.
- Poderosa said it is cooperating with the Policía Nacional in an ongoing investigation, described the incident as a 'terrorist act', and reported that no arrests have been announced so far.
- Pataz has long faced conflict tied to illegal gold mining, and this attack risks further disruption to formal operations, greater danger for local residents and workers, and renewed demands for stronger law-enforcement interventions.