Hundreds of impoverished miners put their lives at risk in search for gold at Hecla's tailings

Hundreds of impoverished miners have overrun the Laguna de Cola mine tailings site at USA-Idaho-based Hecla Mining's workings at La Nina 3 close to El Dorada in southeastern Bolivar State ignoring health and safety risks from chloride, cyanide and mercury pollution in their desperate search for residual traces of gold. Government officials say the locals are oblivious to high-risk exposure to contaminants in the mining left-overs and National Guard units are basically powerless to prevent access to the zone located some 15 kilometers from El Dorado. Already there have been symptoms of rapid and deep breathing with shortness of breath reported and health experts warn that contact with the pollutants can be serious with burns, respiratory conditions, poisoning and sudden or slow poisoning followed by convulsions and loss of consciousness which can occur rapidly, depending on the amount of cyanide ingested. Environment and Health ministry officials are to visit El Dorado this week for an on-site inspection and to take appropriate action. They have already ordered the area to be cordoned off although this is proving impossible despite the best efforts of GN and military units.