Costa Rican President Evacuated After Explosion Near Illegal Mining Zone

Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez was evacuated from a tour of a mining area on Friday after a loud explosion rang out, creating a scene described by the president as "like what you see in a movie."

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It felt like what you see in a movie. They grab you by the hair, throw you to the ground and put you in a car.

The incident occurred in the town of Crucitas, located near the border with Nicaragua, an area notorious for unlicensed gold mines. President Fernandez, along with several lawmakers, was visiting the region when the blast of unknown origin prompted her security detail to rush her into a car for protection. Video footage captured the dramatic moment, showing bodyguards with guns surrounding and moving the president.

Speaking to reporters afterward, Fernandez confirmed she was unharmed, though she underwent a protocol examination. She used the scare to draw attention to the dangers present in the area, citing the activities of criminal gangs involved in illegal gold mining and environmental pollution. "Organized crime cannot break us. I’m glad to know she is okay," stated Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino in a message of support.

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They examined me as per protocol, but I am fine.

This event follows a reported plot to assassinate Fernandez, which the government received information about in early June. The 39-year-old president, who took office in May, succeeded her political mentor Rodrigo Chaves. She campaigned on a promise to crack down on crime in Costa Rica, a country long considered one of the safest in the Americas. Notably, Chaves also claimed to be the target of an assassination plot in January, though concrete evidence was never presented by the government.

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I strongly condemn today’s attack against the President (of Costa Rica).

In an effort to combat illegal mining, Costa Rica and Nicaragua agreed in March to collaborate on measures along their shared border. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges posed by illegal mining operations and the security concerns surrounding them in the region.

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Organized crime cannot break us. I’m glad to know she is okay.