Venezuela: 23 miners die in a mine collapse

By James Blears

The tragedy that killed 23 miners in Venezuela took place on Tuesday 20 February, but due to the remoteness of the area close to the town of Angostura in the State of Bolivar, the full implications are still unfolding and developing.

A video showed a huge wall of earth slowly crumbling, collapsing and imploding on workers who were toiling in shallow channels of water. Local authorities estimate two hundred people were at work on site, when the massive collapse happened.

State Governor Angel Marcano initially confirmed fourteen bodies had been recovered. But Angostura's Mayor Yorgi Arciniega says thirty coffins are being prepared.  Local people say dozens more could be trapped below tons of cloying mud.  Relatives gathered in the nearest settlement of Paragua pleading for planes and helicopters to be sent in.

The area is usually only reached by boat. An investigation is already underway. The open pit mine was being illegally operated when this happened. This sort of mining provides lucrative wages, but the risks are perilous. The consequences of them are all too starkly evident.