No fewer than 30 individuals have lost their lives after an illegal deep gold mine in La Paragua, Venezuela collapsed.
The collapse of the Bulla Loca mine, which stands at a towering height of 114 feet, occurred on Tuesday, February 22, in the remote town of La Paragua, nestled near the Venezuelan Amazon within Bolivar state.
According to reports, over 100 men were trapped within the confines of the mine as rescue efforts swiftly commenced.
Mayor Yorgi Arciniega noted that as of Wednesday, February 21, numerous miners remained trapped, prompting urgent dispatches of rescue teams to the remote area.
He acknowledged plans to transport approximately 30 caskets to a community near the mine, indicating the grim possibility of the death toll rising into the dozens.
The Bulla Loca mine, reportedly operational since last year, is purportedly under the control of various criminal factions, according to reports.
Distraught relatives of the trapped miners congregated in La Paragua, calling on government intervention, particularly the deployment of aircraft to facilitate the rescue of the injured and retrieval of bodies.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch noted that the situation for miners in the southern part of Venezuela has gotten worse because of criminal groups
These groups, allegedly operating with government acquiescence or even involvement, have subjected miners to unspeakable atrocities, including mutilation and forced child labor, in their pursuit of control over the mineral-rich territory.
Human Rights Watch further elucidated that some mines in Bolivar state are under the sway of Colombian rebel factions, such as the National Liberation Army, which has extended its operations into Venezuelan territory.
The dire economic circumstances in Venezuela have driven many into the perilous world of gold mining, where they have fallen victim to exploitation and violence at the hands of armed groups.
Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, underscored the urgency for gold buyers and refineries to ensure that Venezuelan gold in their supply chains is not tainted by the suffering and bloodshed of its victims.
