Mexican authorities said they were working to identify five more bodies following the kidnapping of 10 workers last month.

Five of 10 workers kidnapped from a Canadian-run mine in Mexico last month have been confirmed dead, authorities said.

Authorities have identified five bodies found at a property in Elvid, in rural Sinaloa state, and are working to identify the remains of five others, Mexico’s attorney general’s office said on Monday.

“It is important to note that the prosecution service has been in constant contact with the victim’s relatives,” the office said in a statement.

“In two cases, the bodies have been identified and will be transferred to the states of Zacatecas, as well as to the states of Chihuahua, Sonora and Guerrero,” the statement added.

The office said authorities last week arrested four people in connection with the case and would continue to collect evidence to ensure the killing “does not go unpunished,” but did not provide information on a possible motive.

Vizsla Silver, operator of the Panuco gold and silver mine near Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, said earlier on Monday that many families had been notified that their loved ones had been found dead.

“We are devastated by this outcome and the tragic loss of life. Our deepest condolences go out to our colleague’s family, friends and colleagues, as well as the entire Concordia community,” Vizsla Silver President and CEO Michael Konnert said in a statement.

“Our focus remains on the safe recovery of the missing person and providing support to all affected families and our people during this extremely difficult time,” Conant said.

Vancouver-based Vizsla Silver reported on Jan. 28 that 10 of its workers had been removed from the project site and had notified authorities.

Sinaloa has been rocked by an escalation in gang violence linked to rivalry between factions belonging to two co-founders of the Sinaloa drug cartel, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman, both of whom are detained in the United States.

More than 1,680 homicides occurred in Mexico’s western state in 2025, making it the most violent year in more than a decade, according to Mexican newspaper Milenio.