The collapse of an illegal mine in southern Venezuela left at least 15 dead, according to a report announced Wednesday February 21 by President Nicolas Maduro.
The accident occurred Tuesday afternoon at the Bulla Loca mine, a seven-hour cruise down the La Paragua River in the southern state of Bolivar.
Several dozen people were working in this open-air quarry when an avalanche was triggered, burying several miners.
“So far we have 15 dead and 11 injured
,” Mr. Maduro said on state television.
The injured were taken to a hospital in the state capital, Ciudad Bolivar, about four hours from the Bulla Loca mine, where some 200 people worked, according to government estimates.
A relief and rescue team also traveled to the area from Caracas to support search efforts.