At Least 14 Dead After Gold Mine Collapse in Venezuela

At least fourteen people have been killed following the collapse of a gold mine in Venezuela’s southern El Callao municipality after days of heavy rainfall, emergency officials confirmed on Monday.

Teams from the National Risk Management System said rescue operations remain underway, with victims’ bodies recovered from three separate tunnels at the site.

Authorities stated that the first stage of the response involves draining water from all the mine shafts to lower the flood levels before continuing search and recovery efforts.

The El Callao region, located in Bolívar state, is known for its extensive unregulated gold mining operations, which have long faced safety and environmental concerns. Heavy rains have heightened the risk of mine collapses in recent months, compounding the dangers faced by miners in the area.

This tragic incident underscores the growing vulnerability of Venezuela’s informal mining communities, where limited safety oversight leaves thousands exposed to fatal accidents.