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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Disasters & Emergencies

Girl, 6, found dead in Venezuela earthquake morgue after family identification

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A six-year-old girl, Amaia Landaeta Machado, was found dead in a provisional morgue at the port of La Guaira, Venezuela, eight days after disappearing during recent earthquakes.
  • Her family identified her body at the temporary facility set up after the disaster, which devastated the region.
  • UNICEF estimates that 680,000 children need assistance in Venezuela following the earthquakes, with plans to help at least 232,000.

The body of six-year-old Amaia Landaeta Machado was identified by her family in a provisional morgue at the port of La Guaira, Venezuela, eight days after she disappeared in recent earthquakes. The confirmation came from human rights advocate Gonzalo Himiob via social media.

With much sadness I report that the girl Amaia Landaeta Machado (6) has now been found dead by her family in the morgue located in the silos of the port of La Guaira.

— Gonzalo HimiobA human rights advocate's statement confirming the child's death and identification.

Amaia was among those missing after the double seismic event that struck the country's center-north, with La Guaira being the most affected area. Her mother, Ana Cecilia Machado, had been searching hospitals and shelters for her daughter after the child was initially rescued from Punta de Mulatos and taken to Pariata Hospital, where her trail went cold.

We estimate that around 680,000 children are in need in all the states that have been affected by the earthquake and we want to reach at least 232,000. We are working to secure the resources.

— Sendai ZenaA UNICEF spokesperson detailing the scale of the crisis for children following the earthquakes.

The earthquakes have left a significant humanitarian need, particularly for children. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates that approximately 680,000 children require assistance across all affected Venezuelan states. The organization aims to reach at least 232,000 children and is seeking to mobilize $52 million to support this effort. A UNICEF spokesperson described the situation as "very complex," noting that many children have lost loved ones and are "distraught."

It is very complex the situation and the most difficult thing is that many of the children may have lost a family member, a loved one and are distraught.

— Sendai ZenaA UNICEF spokesperson describing the emotional toll on children affected by the disaster.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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