SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile's government says it will reopen the border with Peru by Wednesday night, following heavy rains that displaced land mines and floated some onto the Pan-American Highway.
Defense Minister Andres Allamand says troops have been clearing debris and searching for anti-personnel and anti-tank land mines that were dislodged by flooding in the border zone. He says soldiers have exploded some mines.
The border closing that was ordered Monday has affected a stretch of the highway that is used by about 20,000 people every day, including tourists and business interests.
Chilean officials say the dislodged land mines were among thousands put down by the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet during tensions with Peru in the 1970s.
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