Ignacio Aurelio Salazar, Jose Angel Hernandez and Jose Manuel Castaneda were confirmed dead by local authorities, Mexican mining chamber Camimex said in a statement.

Camimex called for an investigation to find who was ⁠responsible. “We ask that the absolute priority remains locating our coworkers who are still missing alive so they can return home with their families, where they belong,” Camimex added.

The workers were kidnapped at the end of January from a silver mine in an area security authorities say is under the control of the Chapitos, a ‍faction of the Sinaloa cartel led by the sons of former Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

Vancouver-based Vizsla Silver ‍said it was focused on the safe recovery of those still missing and supporting the affected families.

“We are devastated by this outcome and the tragic loss of life,” CEO ‌Michael Konnert said.

Vizsla Silver said it will provide further updates as it receives confirmations from Mexican authorities. Its ‍Panuco mine has been closed since the kidnapping and company shares were down nearly 6 per cent in Monday trading.