Costa Rican President Evacuated After Explosion Near Mine

On Friday, during a tour of an area known for illegal gold mining, Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez was evacuated following a loud explosion of unknown origin. The incident occurred near Crucita, close to the Nicaragua border, and prompted her bodyguard to rush her to safety.

Video footage showed Fernandez being quickly moved to a car after the blast, which she later described as a dangerous situation due to the presence of criminal gangs involved in illegal mining activities. Fernandez, who took office on May 1 after winning the February 1 elections, has vowed to crack down on crime in the country.

Following the incident, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino expressed solidarity, stating that organized crime cannot break them. This event comes after reports of an alleged assassination plot against Fernandez, which was communicated to her government on June 3.

Costa Rica and Nicaragua agreed in March to collaborate on efforts to combat illegal mining along their shared border.