Dozens missing after Venezuela floods, death toll rises

Record ID: 1692962

  • Title: Dozens missing after Venezuela floods, death toll rises
  • Date: 12th October 2022
  • Summary: LAS TEJERIAS, VENEZUELA (OCTOBER 11, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DETECTION DOG SEARCHING FOR MISSING UNDER DEBRIS LOCALS DIGGING IN MUD SEARCHING FOR MISSING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL, JOSE GREGORIO LARA, SAYING: “I come from another neighbourhood, that way. I’m not from this one. I came to help; part of the people, the families who lost their children are friends of mine. I’ve lived for so many years in the town that we all know each other. It’s a small town, everybody knows each other so we’re digging to see if somebody is there. Here we are.” PEOPLE DIGGING IN MUD CHILD LOCAL JACKELINE GUZMAN SITTING IN DESTROYED HOUSE FRIDGE HALF BURIED IN MUD ROOM DESTROYED BY LANDSLIDE GUZMAN TALKING (SOUNDBITE) LOCAL, JACKELINE GUZMAN, SAYING: “It’s the third day (after the storm). As you can see, we lost everything – houses, people, children. We’re in pain for so many losses. It was so hard to build this all and now we’re left with nothing. We’re trying to retrieve whatever we can. We don’t have any documents or anything. Starting over again. And there’s the pain for all these people who haven’t been found. My cousin was there, in the corner, when (the river) took him over. He hasn’t appeared yet; we don’t know anything from him.” GUZMAN AND RELATIVES SITTING IN DESTROYED HOUSE MUDDY WATER RUNNING ON FLOOR IN TOWN VARIOUS OF DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY LANDSLIDE PEOPLE REMOVING FRIDGE FROM DEBRIS NATIONAL GUARD MEMBER IN DESTROYED HOUSE NATIONAL GUARD STEPPING ON MUD LOCAL NATALY MATOS CRYING NATIONAL GUARD TALKING TO MATOS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL, NATALY MATOS, SAYING: “It has been three days, three days without knowing anything from her. We’re digging in the house because in her last call, she said she was drowning in the kitchen. But I don’t know anything else from her. I’ve had a lot of help but it has been three days and I’m still feeling desperate. I’d like to dig myself everywhere and remove her if she’s there. I checked the dispensary. Friends are checking (if she’s) in hospitals, but no news. I’ve sent pictures and got them published on social media networks, but I can’t find her.” MATTRESS BURIED IN MUD MATOS TALKING TO NATIONAL GUARD HOLE ON WALL OF MUDDY ROOM RESCUERS CARRYING INJURED PERSON PEOPLE WALKING ON DEBRIS DESTROYED MARKET STALLS SOLDIERS REMOVING DEBRIS PEOPLE WALKING IN LINE VARIOUS OF HOUSES DESTROYED BY LANDSLIDE
  • Embargoed: 26th October 2022 02:17
  • Keywords: Destruction Flood Landslide Las Tejerias Natural disaster Venezuela
  • Location: LAS TEJERIAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: LAS TEJERIAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Floods,South America / Central America
  • Reuters ID: LVA001160011102022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Hundreds of Venezuelans roamed the streets of Las Tejerias on Tuesday (October 11), digging and searching for missing relatives amid a rising death toll from devastating weekend floods that swept through the town, leaving many wondering where they will live.
    Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said 43 people had been confirmed killed in the disaster, while President Nicolas Maduro said earlier on state television as many as 100 may have died. Some 56 people were still reported missing, Maduro said.
    Local Nataly Matos is still searching for her mum. The last time Matos knew from her, her mum called her saying she was drowning in her kitchen.
    Matos said she and her friends are checking in hospitals and dispensaries, as she posted pictures of her mum on social media networks, with no news yet.
    Though electricity and cellphone coverage have been restored to the town of 73,000 people about 67 km (42 miles) southwest of the capital Caracas, it remains without running water, according to Reuters witnesses.
    The floods carried mud, rocks, trees and other debris into the town in Venezuela's Aragua state, destroying houses and businesses.
    Government officials who visited Las Tejerias promised to recover all the houses and businesses affected.
    More than 1,000 homes were destroyed or damaged, officials said on Monday (October 10).
    (Production: Efrain Otero, Johnny Carvajal, Anna Portella)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register