. | . |
Torrential rains leave 15 dead in Venezuela by AFP Staff Writers Caracas (AFP) Aug 25, 2021 At least 15 people died in the Venezuelan Andes after heavy rains triggered mud and rock slides, authorities said Tuesday. Several hours of downpours in the Mocoties Valley, a farming region in western Merida state that attracts a lot of tourists, caused boulders to tumble down mountainsides, blocking off roads. Jehyson Guzman, an official overseeing Merida on behalf of President Nicolas Maduro, said that 15 people have been confirmed dead. Images shared on social media showed a stream of water carrying vehicles down a street in the village of Tovar. Others showed cars buried in mud or stuck between tree roots sticking out of a quagmire surrounded by rocks and furniture. Merida governor Ramon Guevara said the Mocoties river had burst its banks and flooded Tovar, which has been cut off from electricity and telephone coverage. Roads accessing the town have also been blocked. "It's a dramatic, sad and desperate situation. It's not easy to lose everything, worse still to lose family members," Jesus Quintero, a journalist based in Merida, told AFP. "It's a repeat of the 2005 tragedy." That year, 41 people died and 52 went missing following torrential rains in Merida. Heavy rains have also hit other parts of Venezuela, including the capital Caracas. Speaking on national television, Maduro said that over 35,000 people have been affected by the rains across the country, with over 8,000 homes destroyed. The government meteorological institute has warned that six rivers may burst their banks while three states -- Bolivar, Guarico and Zulia -- are on red alert.
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |