Open-pit Gold Mine Collapse In Venezuela Leaves Dozens Feared Dead
Open-pit gold mine collapse in Venezuela leaves dozens feared dead. The illicitly operated open-pit gold mine in central Venezuela suffered the collapse, resulting in the death of at least 14 people and causing injuries to several others, state authorities reported on Wednesday.
Author:Rhyley CarneyReviewer:Paula M. GrahamFeb 23, 20243.9K Shares64.2K Views
Open-pit gold mine collapse in Venezuela leaves dozens feared dead. The illicitly operated open-pit gold mine in central Venezuela suffered the collapse, resulting in the death of at least 14 people and causing injuries to several others, state authorities reported on Wednesday. Bolivar state Governor Angel Marcano informed local media that rescue teams had recovered 14 bodies thus far, with reports of at least 11 individuals sustaining injuries. Additionally, there are concerns about the possibility of others being trapped, although the exact number remains uncertain.
"We continue to carry out rescue work," he said, with relatives demanding swift rescue efforts.
The incident occurred on Tuesday in the Angostura municipality, where a wall collapsed at the Bulla Loca mine, accessible only after an hours-long boat journey. Late Tuesday, Angostura Mayor Yorgi Arciniega expressed concerns about the potential for a higher death toll, mentioning plans to transport around 30 caskets to a nearby community. Relatives of the miners gathered in La Paragua, the nearest settlement to the mine, urging the government to dispatch aircraft to assist in rescuing the injured and retrieving the bodies from the remote site.
"We are here waiting, please, for the government to support us with helicopters, planes, anything," said Karina Ríos, whose daughter's father was trapped in the collapse. "There are quite a few dead, there are people wounded. Why don’t they give us support, where are they?"
Ríos expressed concern about the rapid decomposition of bodies due to the harsh conditions in the area. In 2016, Venezuela's government established a vast mining development zone spanning the country's midsection to diversify revenue streams alongside the oil industry. Since then, mining activities for gold, diamonds, copper, and other minerals have flourished both within and outside the designated zone.
Numerous mines operate unlawfully or on the fringes of legality, offering lucrative employment opportunities for ordinary Venezuelans despite the harsh working conditions. Survivor Carlos Marcano, aged 71, recounted arriving at a triage medical tent in La Paragua on Wednesday after enduring the harrowing collapse at the mine, describing the situation there as "terrifying."
"One would not want a colleague, a human being, to die like that," he said. "Some of us made it. There are a few wounded, but there are still a number of dead who have not been rescued and are buried there."
Egar Colina, a security official within the Bolivar state government, emphasized the need for caution and mentioned that additional state authorities were en route to La Paragua to provide updates on the death toll.
Bolivar, a region cloaked in forests, has long grappled with illegal mining operations targeting gold and other minerals. In recent years, the scope of informal mining activities, often under the control of criminal syndicates, has expanded, extending even to Canaima National Park, a pristine area straddling the Venezuela-Brazil border. La Paragua lies less than 40 miles from the park's boundaries.
Rhyley Carney
Author
Paula M. Graham
Reviewer
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