PARIS, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Three French soldiers were accidentally killed in an operation combating illegal gold mining in French Guiana, the country's defense ministry announced Thursday.

On Wednesday afternoon, eight officers became intoxicated by fumes at the bottom of a gallery while placing explosives to destroy underground facilities used by illegal miners, the ministry said in a press release.

Three officers lost their lives and five others were evacuated and hospitalized. One of them was in critical condition.

In a separate statement, Defense Minister Florence Parly expressed condolences to the soldiers' families, paying tribute to "their dedication," which she said "reminds us that every day and every hour, men and women of our armies expose themselves with courage for our safety."

"These soldiers from the 19th Regiment of Engineering Besancon were deployed on a short mission within the 9th Marine Regiment of Cayenne. They did it without reserve, until giving their lives," she added. Enditem

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