The number of people missing after the deadly landslide in Venezuela is rising
According to official information provided by the Venezuelan Ministry of Information, the number of people injured in the disaster has now risen to 16,700. The tragedy has become one of the worst losses in the country's history.
The natural disaster caused the complete collapse of many multi-storey buildings and structures. The greatest losses were recorded in the La-Guayra coastal area near the capital Caracas.
As a result of many residential buildings being destroyed under the rubble, thousands of citizens were left homeless and are now staying in temporary camps. Although 11 days have passed since the earthquake, local and international rescue teams continue their efforts without interruption to search for and rescue people trapped under the debris.
According to officials, the number of victims may increase further, as search operations are not yet complete. The country's interim president, Delsi Rodriges, reported on the measures being taken to address the consequences of the extraordinary situation.
According to her, thousands of specialists, military personnel, and government officials have been deployed to the rescue efforts. Rodriges also specifically noted that social order is not being disrupted in the country and that the situation remains fully under control.
Nevertheless, some citizens believe that the government's initial actions following the earthquake were not sufficiently effective. In particular, there are opinions expressing dissatisfaction that local search efforts were delayed until international rescue teams arrived.
Local residents complain about the delay in aid arriving. Forensic experts reported that the process of identifying bodies and handing them over to relatives is proceeding with great difficulty due to the extraordinarily high number of casualties.
According to preliminary estimates by specialists, it may take at least three months to fully recover all bodies from under the rubble. Currently, cleanup operations using heavy machinery are ongoing in the affected areas.
