انهيار «منجم ذهب» يحوّل بلدة فنزويلية لـ«مأتم»

At least 14 people have died in the town of El Callao in southeastern Venezuela after a gold mine collapsed due to heavy rains that hit the area, in one of the worst gold mining disasters in Bolívar state.

3 Collapsed Shafts

The incident occurred at the Cuatro Esquinas de Caratal mine, where three shafts collapsed simultaneously, trapping several workers, according to local authorities who announced it via their official Instagram account.

Immediate Field Command

Authorities announced the establishment of a field command point led by General Gregory Gonzalez Acevedo to coordinate recovery operations, assess damages, and address urgent needs under extremely difficult conditions.

Underwater Rescue

Emergency teams began pumping water from the collapsed shafts to lower the water level, preparing to start search efforts for trapped individuals or additional bodies. Authorities have not yet announced the final number of missing persons.

Floods Destroyed Everything

Firefighters confirmed that the sudden floods caused the vertical shafts, locally known as "wadis," to collapse. These are narrow, steep passages used by miners to access gold deep underground.

Fragile Gold Economy

The town of El Callao is a major center for gold mining in Venezuela, with around 30,000 of its residents relying on mining work, either directly or indirectly, making such disasters severe blows to the local economy.