At least 14 individuals lost their lives in a mine collapse in El Callao, Venezuela following heavy rainfall in the southeast region, as per authorities’ announcement on Monday. Brigadier General Gregory Gonzlez Acevedo, leading the Operational Zones for Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (ZOEDAN) in Bolivar state, set up a command post to direct efforts to retrieve the deceased.
The fatalities occurred in three separate shafts within the “Cuatro Esquinas de Caratal” mine situated in El Callao, approximately 850 kilometers (528 miles) southeast of Caracas, as detailed in a statement shared on the agency’s Instagram account. Search and rescue operations commenced by draining all shafts in the vicinity to reduce water levels and assess the rescue operations for those trapped within the gold mine, although specifics were not disclosed.
The reported death toll was confirmed through accounts of other miners and statements by firefighters in El Callao on social media. The collapse of the vertical mines, referred to as ravines, was triggered by flooding. El Callao heavily relies on gold mining for its livelihood, with a significant portion of its 30,000 residents involved directly or indirectly in mining activities.
Venezuela is abundant in copper, diamond, and various precious metal resources, with prevalent unsafe working conditions in the inadequately regulated mining sector.