increases the number of deceased to 36 while 56 people are still missing

First modification: 10/11/2022 – 03:42

The number of people killed by the catastrophe increased to 36, while 56 remain missing. Consequence of a landslide that devastated Las Tejerías, in the center of Venezuela. The increase in figures was announced by Admiral Remigio Ceballos, Sector Vice President of Citizen Security.

One of the survivors of the disaster narrated the moment in which she lost her relatives. “My husband was by the window. I couldn’t help him either and he was washed away.” The affected is called Jennifer Galíndez, a 46-year-old woman who also lost her granddaughter in the middle of the flood.

“I haven’t been able to sleep. I can’t close my eyes, because that’s what I see.” Jennifer said. “I see my granddaughter where I put her. I left her there and I couldn’t get her out of it.”

Like her, another group of people cry or look for their loved ones. In the midst of the search and rescue efforts, it can be seen that most of the local infrastructure was totally or partially affected and covered in mud.

Maduro visits the disaster area and promises that the houses will be recovered

“We are facing a landslide of great magnitude such as we had not experienced for many years in Venezuela.”

This was one of the statements made by the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, who visited the area affected by the landslide. The president assured the neighbors that they had the security that “every last house” was going to be recovered.

Maduro attended with his wife, Cilia Flores, and other high-ranking state officials.

Other high-ranking Chavismo leaders also attended the area, including Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and a group of heads of ministerial portfolios.

According to international media, three large shelters have been set up and the victims receive the support of non-governmental organizations. In the 23 affected sectors live at least 10,000 families, who still do not have basic services.

The rains will continue

In statements made the day before, the Minister for Internal Relations, Justice and Peace, Remigio Ceballos, reported on the continuation of the rains in the country, for which he made an alert call to the national authorities.

Ceballos is one of the senior officials who are full time in the place, declared by Maduro as a “disaster zone and natural catastrophe.”

Rainfall has also caused damage in other parts of the country. In the state of Portuguesa, the director of Civil Protection stressed that at least 250 families have been affected and a vehicle bridge collapsed.

For his part, the governor of the state of Zulia, Manuel Rosales, reported some 55 homes affected. Of these 27 are considered as total loss and uninhabitable. Rosales also said that some 150,000 productive areas have been flooded.

In this sense, the governor of the state of Lara published on social networks that 11 sectors are compromised in one of its municipalities, where 15 victims have already been sheltered.

With Reuters and EFE