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The earth movement was caused by the heavy rains caused by the aftermath of storm Julia that hit the state of Aragua, in the center of the country. President Nicolás Maduro decreed three days of mourning and the site of the events as a “disaster zone and natural catastrophe”. Rainfall is expected to continue for the next few days.
During an inspection visit to Tejerías, the scene of the events, the Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, verified the significant damage caused and stated that the security agencies, including the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, are in full search for the persons disappeared and others who remain trapped.
To the local media, Rodríguez also disclosed part of the damage, such as the loss of the water pumps that feed the city’s drinking water system. According to the vice president, Saturday’s rains washed debris from the surrounding mountains, washing away farmland, homes and businesses.
“We are serving people who have been left homeless. From the national government we are attentive to the consequences of the climate crisis. The river took the submersible pumps, dragged trunk, trees, it’s like all this from the mountain came down and this tragedy occurred, ”he pointed out.
At least a thousand rescuers are looking for signs of life in the area, according to the deputy minister of the Civil Protection System.
“We have found 22 deceased people and there are more than 52 missing people”, as reported by the Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez from Las Tejerías, in the state of Aragua, a region that was hit by the rains. pic.twitter.com/Pp2vN6896Y
– Julio Riobo VTV (@JRioboVTV) October 9, 2022
With the deaths recorded in Tejerías, the deaths recorded in recent weeks rise to about 40 due to heavy rainfall caused by the weather phenomenon known as “La Niña”.
Maduro decrees three days of mourning and “disaster zone and natural catastrophe” at the scene
The seriousness of the events made the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, decree three days of national mourning starting this Sunday.
“Due to the serious situation resulting from the large-scale landslide caused by the rains, I decreed in the communities that make up Las Tejerías, a natural disaster and catastrophe zone and three days of national mourning starting today, October 9, in solidarity with the affected families,” he said on his social networks.
In this sense, the nation’s Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino López, announced on his Twitter account the deployment of an important group of means and techniques necessary to support the rescue and recovery efforts.
By instructions of our CJ @NicolasMadurothe Strategic Operational Command #FANB has deployed men, forces and means of health, communications, search and removal, etc., in the place of damage, in coordination with other citizen security bodies. https://t.co/pCfs9aVNcu
– Vladimir Padrino L. (@vladimirpadrino) October 9, 2022
The rains will continue
The sectoral vice president for Citizen Security, Admiral Remigio Ceballos, reported on the formation of a trough in the north of the country, which could reinforce rainy conditions.
Yesterday a trough formed rapidly north of Venezuela, over the Caribbean; further reinforcing the rainy conditions in much of the country. In the morning cloudiness prevails with rains; We are attending and monitoring emergencies due to the heavy rains recorded pic.twitter.com/eY4ZUXCcDK
– @FuerzaDinamica Remigio Ceballos Ichaso (@CeballosIchaso1) October 9, 2022
Ceballos made a call to the authorities to remain alert and attend to the different damages that hydrological conditions could cause.
With EFE, Reuters and local media
