Situated near of Guatemala City’s downtown, in the bottom of the ravine filled by waste throughout the metropolitan area, runs a river of sewage from the south. Every day, dozens of people defy the misfortune of staying buried by the garbage or be washed away by the river. The “Miners” down, and in the contaminated water looking for any scrap and especially gold.
Without luck to find gold, the “Miners” earn around $20/day, twice the minimum pay recognized by the State of Guatemala. Also there are many who value a job where “there is no boss or schedules to respect”.
A monument commemorates the victims of one of the many tragedies in La Mina. In July 2008 more than 40 were dead. Many more, hundreds, died over the years, most still unnamed.