At least 12 workers were killed when a gold mine collapsed due to flooding in El Callao. VenezuelaThe government announced this today.

The accident happened last Wednesday at the Talavera mine in Bolívar state due to heavy rain in the area. However, before Saturday, the rescuers managed to complete the search and rescue operation.

Another 112 workers were rescued, Edgar Kolina, head of the local civil protection agency, said. Rescue teams will return to the site today to check for other survivors or casualties.

The tunnels of the Talavera mine were in their infancy opened by gold prospectors in search of precious metals. Many organizations have warned of the dangers in this area, and last year the UN condemned human rights abuses in Venezuelan mines.

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters}