AT LEAST 28 MINERS WERE KILLED WHEN THEIR BUS PLUNGED INTO A RAVINE AS THEY TRAVELED HOME FROM WORK AT A SILVER MINE IN PERU, THE MINING COMPANY SAID ON WEDNESDAY. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED LATE ON TUESDAY AS THE BUS TOOK ABOUT 45 WORKERS BACK TO THEIR HOMES AFTER THEY FINISHED THEIR SHIFTS AT THE UCHUCCHACUA MINE IN LIMA PROVINCE IN WEST-CENTRAL PERU, 14,760 FEET (4,500 METRES) ABOVE SEA LEVEL IN THE ANDES, THE COMPANY THAT RUNS THE MINE SAID. 'TWENTY-EIGHT WORKERS HAVE DIED AND 17 HAVE BEEN HURT,' BUENAVENTURA, PERU)S BIGGEST PRECIOUS METALS MINER, REUTERS QUOTED A STATEMENT AS SAYING. PERU IS THE WORLD)S SECOND-BIGGEST SILVER PRODUCER AND MINING IS A PILLAR OF THE ECONOMY
