At least 12 people died in the Venezuelan town of El Callao after a closed gold mine collapsed as a result of the heavy rains affecting the area, it was reported Saturday. 'As of today we have 12 dead, who entered a mine that was closed a long time ago,' said the secretary of Citizen Security of Bolivar state, Edgar Colina Reyes. 'The mine was flooded by the rains,' which caused 'these artisanal miners' to lose oxygen and die 'due to respiratory insufficiency,' he explained.