Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez announced that at least 22 people have died and 52 are missing following a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in Aragua state, northern Venezuela, on October 9.
Rescue teams searching for victims under the rubble of houses destroyed by the landslide in Las Tejerias, Aragua state, Venezuela, on October 9, 2022. (Photo: AFP/Voice).
In a televised address, Vice President Rodriguez announced that President Nicolas Maduro will declare the area affected by the landslide a disaster zone and will issue a decree for three days of mourning to honor the victims of this natural disaster.
According to Rodriguez, within just eight hours, local residents experienced rainfall equivalent to the average amount for an entire month, and the pumps used to supply clean water to the community were swept away by the floodwaters. The excessive rainfall also caused five rivers in the area near the town of Las Tejerias, located about 60 kilometers from the capital Caracas, to overflow.
On October 9, Rodriguez visited the areas severely affected by this disaster. She reported that military personnel are working diligently to search for the missing. Many temporary tents have been set up to provide shelter for families who have lost their homes, while businesses that have suffered damage will receive government assistance for disaster recovery.
Currently, over 1,000 personnel from security and risk management agencies are actively responding to this emergency situation.
