Hundreds of unidentified earthquake victims buried in Venezuela

Hundreds of unidentified victims from Venezuela's devastating earthquake are being interred in mass graves at a municipal cemetery in La Guaira state, according to witness accounts. The emergency burials are taking place at the La Esperanza cemetery, where workers have observed numerous trucks delivering bodies that have not been identified.

A cemetery worker, speaking anonymously, reported seeing three vehicles on Monday carrying approximately 30 deceased individuals. He estimated that between Saturday, June 27, and Wednesday, July 1, around 10 trucks delivered bodies, suggesting at least 800 people may have been buried in the location. The bodies are being placed in coffins marked with white crosses.

Journalists from EFE observed authorities working at the cemetery, which features a large, open hillside area. Dozens of trenches have been dug, and the site appears capable of holding thousands more coffins. Officials were seen sheltering more crosses under a tent while continuing to cover the placed coffins with earth.

Access to the La Esperanza cemetery, located about 25 kilometers from Catia la Mar, was restricted by municipal police on Monday afternoon, who stated that military authorization was required. The latest official toll from the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes on June 24 reports 3,535 deaths and 16,740 injuries. Hundreds of families continue to await the recovery of loved ones from collapsed buildings, as the daily death toll increases.

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the bodies arrive without being identified, but they are being buried in coffins with a white cross.