At least fourteen people have lost their lives after a gold mine in Venezuela collapsed following heavy rainfall. Emergency officials have been working to recover the bodies from the mine, which is located in the southern part of the country.
The incident happened in the El Callao municipality, a well known gold mining hub. The torrential rains caused flooding, which led to the collapse of the mine’s vertical shafts. According to reports, the victims were found in three separate shafts. Two miners, however, managed to escape from one of the shafts, which was approximately 100 meters deep.
Rescue efforts have been coordinated from a command post set up in the town of El Callao. The first phase of the operation involves pumping water out of the shafts to lower the water level, which will then allow for a better assessment of the rescue efforts. The current death toll is based on the testimony of the surviving miners.
The mining industry in Venezuela is not well regulated, and unsafe working conditions are common. This tragedy highlights the dangers faced by workers in the country’s mining sector.
