At least 22 people died, including two Portuguese, and 52 are still missing after heavy rains hit the city of Tejerías, in central Venezuela, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed on Sunday.
“Five streams overflowed and here we are seeing very significant damage. Human losses, so far we have found 22 dead, there are 52 more missing,” said Delcy Rodríguez, quoted by Agence France-Presse.
According to the vice president, the rains caused “a great landslide” that caused several water lines to overflow, causing “human losses” and high material damage.
Delcy Rodríguez also added that, by order of President Nicolás Maduro, the city of Tejerías was considered a “tragedy zone” and three days of mourning were declared.
As he said, the security agencies, as well as the Armed Forces, are positioned at the scene of the incident to advance in the search for the disappeared and other people who remain to be rescued.
“We are trying to rescue those we can rescue and we offer our condolences to all the people who have lost a loved one,” added Delcy Rodríguez.
The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, today ordered the maximum commitment of all security and civil protection agencies to support the citizens of the area hit by torrential rains.
“Given the difficult and painful situation caused by the heavy rains in Las Tejerías, I ordered the vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, the social office and all the security forces, to do everything possible to provide comprehensive care to people,” he said. Nicolás Maduro in the statement. Twitter social network.
Consular sources told Lusa this Sunday that two Portuguese, a man and a woman, died in Las Tejerias, 70 kilometers southwest of Caracas, due to torrential rains that affected the Venezuelan state of Aragua in recent hours.
The honorary consul of Portugal in Los Teques, Pedro Gonçalves, specified that two Portuguese merchants were dragged by the torrent of water and mud.
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, offered his condolences to the families and friends of the two Portuguese.
Source: TSF
