At least 25 people have died and 52 are still missing after five small rivers in central Venezuela overflowed due to torrential rains, Venezuela’s Vice President, Delsey Rodriguez, said on Sunday.
In a televised address, Rodriguez said Saturday night’s heavy rain carried large tree trunks and debris from surrounding mountains to the Tejerias region, 67 kilometers southwest of the capital Caracas.
The flood caused a lot of damage to houses, shops, businesses and agricultural land.
He added: The rain that has fallen in only 8 days is equivalent to the rain that has fallen in a whole month, and the pumps used to run the drinking water network in the region have been destroyed by flood waters.
Rodriguez said the priority was to find people still trapped under the mud and rocks around Las Tejaras, while military and relief personnel also searched the river banks for survivors.
About 1000 people are participating in the operation to save the victims in this area.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro also wrote on his Twitter that Tejarías has been declared a disaster area and three days of public mourning.
Source: Lebanon Debate
