Laura Fernández emerged unharmed after security forces activated emergency protocols.
SAN CARLOS, COSTA RICA — June 2026. Costa Rican President Laura Fernández was evacuated from the Crucitas area on Friday after a powerful explosion was heard near the official delegation accompanying her on an inspection of the damage caused by illegal gold mining.
The incident occurred as Fernández, government officials, lawmakers, journalists and security personnel were leaving Cerro Fortuna, near the Finca Vivoyet sector in Crucitas de Cutris, a remote community in the northern canton of San Carlos.
The loud detonation caused members of the delegation to drop to the ground while officers from Costa Rica’s Public Force activated presidential protection protocols and moved Fernández into an official vehicle.
Security personnel escorted the president away from the site and transferred her to a protected location, where she was examined as part of the established emergency procedure.
Fernández later confirmed that she had not been injured and asked the public not to be alarmed, explaining that the medical evaluation was a standard precaution following an incident involving the presidential delegation.
“I am fine. They already checked me because that is the protocol. Nobody should worry beyond what is necessary. We are all fine,” the president said during a brief appearance after the evacuation.
Authorities reported no physical injuries among those participating in the visit, although the unexpected detonation caused moments of fear and confusion within the delegation.
Officialist lawmaker María Isabel Camareno reportedly suffered a nervous crisis, while legislator Fernando Valdivia experienced physical discomfort following the explosion, but neither case was described as life-threatening.
The origin and precise nature of the detonation had not been officially established during the first reports, and authorities continued examining the area to determine whether it was related to illegal mining operations or another activity taking place nearby.
Fernández said the incident demonstrated the dangerous conditions surrounding Crucitas, where extensive illegal gold extraction has generated environmental destruction, security challenges and the presence of criminal organizations.
The president described the moment as resembling a scene from a film and emphasized that the risks faced by police officers, local residents and public officials in the area should not be underestimated.
“I come away extremely worried and deeply saddened. The danger here is real,” Fernández said after leaving the site.
The presidential visit had been organized to allow government representatives and members of the Legislative Assembly to directly observe the consequences of illegal mining in the northern region.
Fernández had previously invited all 57 Costa Rican lawmakers to participate in the inspection, arguing that they needed to witness the environmental, economic and security conditions in Crucitas before debating possible solutions.
Lawmakers from three political parties joined the delegation, which planned to travel approximately seven kilometers through areas affected by unauthorized extraction and related activities.
The president has urged the Legislative Assembly to address the future of gold mining in Crucitas, where thousands of illegal miners have operated despite repeated police interventions and environmental restrictions.
Fernández maintains that the absence of a definitive legal and economic solution has allowed criminal structures to control parts of the activity, while valuable mineral resources continue to leave the country through illicit networks.
According to figures cited by the president, Costa Rica spends approximately 1.3 million dollars each month on security operations in the region, with about 150 police officers assigned to protect nearly 800 hectares.
She argued that these resources could otherwise support broader national security priorities, but the government must maintain a substantial presence because of the environmental damage, organized crime and unsafe extraction methods reported in the area.
Crucitas has remained politically controversial for years after a proposed open-pit gold mine operated by the Canadian company Infinito Gold was halted following legal and environmental disputes.
After the formal mining project was abandoned, unauthorized miners entered the region and began extracting gold through improvised methods that authorities say have damaged forests, contaminated water sources and strengthened illegal commercial networks.
Fernández has supported establishing a regulated framework for exploiting the mineral deposits, arguing that government supervision could reduce illegal activity and allow Costa Rica to benefit economically from its natural resources.
Environmental organizations and opposition groups have challenged that position, warning that legalizing open-pit mining could cause additional ecological damage and revive a model previously rejected by Costa Rican courts and environmental movements.
Following Friday’s explosion, Fernández called for the national debate to remain technical and for lawmakers to reach decisions without unnecessary delays.
She acknowledged that resolving the Crucitas crisis would require time but warned that postponing action would make the environmental and security problems increasingly difficult and expensive to control.
The president also questioned what could happen in the region without the extraordinary security deployment organized for the official visit, noting that a detonation occurred even while the head of state and lawmakers were present.
Security forces maintained control of the area following the evacuation as investigators worked to establish the source of the blast and determine whether the presidential delegation had faced a deliberate threat.
The Costa Rican government had not reported evidence of an attack against Fernández at the time of the initial announcements, and the event remained under investigation.