00:00 In central Venezuela, tragedy struck as at least 23 individuals have lost their lives
00:11 in a devastating incident at an illegal gold mine.
00:15 The catastrophe unfolded at the Bula Loco open pit mine in the state of Bolivar, deep
00:21 within the jungles.
00:23 A local official has confirmed the grim toll, stating that 23 bodies have been recovered
00:29 from the site.
00:30 The calamity occurred on a fateful Tuesday when a massive wall of earth collapsed onto
00:35 workers in the mine.
00:37 The Deputy Minister of Civil Protection, Carlos Perez Ampilada, shared a harrowing video of
00:42 the incident, capturing the horrifying moment when the earth engulfed those toiling in the
00:48 shadow waters of the open pit mine.
00:51 Amidst the chaos, some managed to escape, but many were not as fortunate, and so now
00:56 they are trapped under the rubble.
00:59 Approximately 200 individuals are believed to be laboring at the mine when the disaster
01:05 struck.
01:06 Situated at a considerable distance from the nearest town, La Parraga, the mine posed logistical
01:12 challenges for rescue efforts, requiring a seven-hour boat ride through treacherous terrain.
01:18 Edgar Colina Reyes, the Bolivar State Secretary of Citizen Security, has reported that the
01:24 injured are being transported to a hospital in Ciudad Bolivar, the region's capital, a
01:29 four-hour-long journey from La Parraga.
01:32 In La Parraga, anguished relatives are now waiting anxiously for the news of their loved
01:36 ones, their heavy hearts with dread.
01:39 Tears are flowing freely as bodies are being retrieved from boats, each casualty representing
01:45 a shattered family left to grieve.
01:47 Amidst the anguish, pleas for assistance echoed across the shores as desperate families implored
01:52 for helicopters to aid in evacuating the injured to medical facilities.
01:58 As the gravity of the situation unfolds, Reyes has now announced that military personnel,
02:02 firefighters and other relief organizations are being mobilized to the area, deployed
02:06 by air to assess the extent of the devastation.
02:10 Additionally, rescue teams are being airlifted from the capital city of Caracas to bolster
02:15 the search and rescue operation.
02:17 For the unaware, the region of Bolivar boasts a vast mineral wealth, including gold, diamond,
02:23 coltan and even coal, attracting both legal and illicit mining activities.
02:28 However, the lure of riches comes at a steep cost, with many miners forced to toil in perilous
02:34 conditions driven by dire economic circumstances.
02:37 The Bula Locomine disaster serves as a stark reminder of the perils faced by those engaged
02:43 in the mining industry, underscoring the urgent need for improved safety regulation and enforcement
02:49 measures to prevent such tragedies in the near future.
02:53 [Music]
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