TSX- and NYSE-listed Vizsla Silver on Monday confirmed the deaths of several of the ten workers abducted from its Panuco project site in Concordia, Mexico, on January 23.
The company said it had been informed by a number of families that their relatives, who were taken from the site, had been found deceased.
Local authorities reported that at least five workers had been confirmed dead and that five other bodies had been discovered elsewhere in the state, with identification efforts under way.
Mexico’s mining chamber, Camimex, identified three of the reported deceased miners as Ignacio Aurelio Salazar Flores,José Ángel Hernández Vélez and José Manuel Castañeda Hernández.
“We are devastated by this outcome and the tragic loss of life,” said Vizsla president and CEO Michael Konnert. “Our deepest condolences are with our colleagues’ families, friends and co-workers, and the entire community of Concordia. Our focus remains on the safe recovery of those who remain missing and on supporting all affected families and our people during this incredibly difficult time.”
Camimex also expressed its condolences and called for strengthened investigations and improved security guarantees.
The developer suspended operations at the project last month after reporting that ten workers had been taken from the site. At the time, Vizsla said information about the incident was limited and that it had engaged crisis management and security response teams