Many people were killed in a devastating incident in Venezuela. On 20 February, an illegal 'Bula Loca' gold mine collapsed in Bolivar state. To reach it it takes a seven-hour boat trip from the nearest town, La Paragua. Media reports said that more than 200 people were reportedly working in the open pit mine when the mine collapsed.
Relatives of the miners gathered at La Paraguay, the nearest mine site, and demanded the government send planes to the site to rescue the injured and retrieve the bodies.
Officials said that the number of dead was different
AFP officials have given conflicting statements about the death toll. Bolivar state Civil Defense Secretary Edgar Colina Reyes said 16 people had died in the accident. President Nicolas Maduro said another 11 were injured. “I express my condolences to the families and friends of those who unfortunately died in this accident,” he said on state television.
Earlier in the day, Yorgi Arcienega, mayor of the Angostura municipality, told AFP that about 23 bodies had been recovered, including 15 that arrived by boat in La Paraguay.
Minister shared video of the incident
Civil Protection Deputy Minister Carlos Pérez Empueda shared a video of the incident on Twitter, and mentioned 'massive' casualties, although did not give any numbers.
The video shows dozens of people working in the shallow water of an open-pit mine as a wall of mud slowly collapses on them. Some managed to escape while others were surrounded.
Illegal mining is increasing rapidly
The Bolivar region is rich in gold, diamonds, iron, bauxite, quartz and coltan. Apart from the state's mines, the industry of illegal mining is also growing rapidly here.
Resident Robinson Basanta described the unsafe working conditions of the miners, most of whom live in extreme poverty. He said, 'This was bound to happen, a lot of gold has come out of this mine... People go there out of compulsion to fulfill their needs.
Activists condemn 'ecocide' in the region and the exploitation of children who work long hours without protection.
In December last year, at least 12 people were killed in a mine collapse in the same area.
Last year, Venezuelan armed forces evicted about 14,000 illegal miners from Yapacana National Park in the neighboring state of Amazonas.
(PC: Google)
