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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Disasters & Emergencies

Jorge Rodríguez denies earthquake debris dumped on La Guaira beaches

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez denied allegations that earthquake debris is being dumped into the sea along the coast of La Guaira.
  • Rodríguez stated that international experts were consulted and that dumping such a large volume of debris into the ocean is not being considered.
  • He suggested that technologies exist to reuse the debris, potentially for projects like expanding the Simón Bolívar International Airport.

Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela's National Assembly, has vehemently denied claims that debris from the recent earthquakes is being dumped into the sea at La Guaira's beaches. The accusations gained traction on social media after an influencer, citizens, and journalists posted content suggesting the waste was being discharged into the ocean.

During a press conference, Rodríguez stated, "There are one million two hundred eighty thousand tons of debris. Under no circumstances, neither we nor the international experts we convened to help us with the debris issue, would ever come up with the outlandish idea of throwing them into the sea." He emphasized Venezuela's respect for marine fauna and its prohibition of fishing practices that harm it. Instead, he indicated that the government is exploring mechanisms for reusing the debris.

There are one million two hundred eighty thousand tons of debris. Under no circumstances, neither we nor the international experts we convened to help us with the debris issue, would ever come up with the outlandish idea of throwing them into the sea.

— Jorge RodríguezPresident of Venezuela's National Assembly, denying allegations of dumping earthquake debris into the sea.

Rodríguez explained that technologies are available to separate various materials from the debris for new applications. One potential use mentioned is the expansion of the runway at the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía. He urged the influencer who initially raised the complaint to retract their statement.

Very much the opposite, we are seeking mechanisms to see how some of that debris can be reused.

— Jorge RodríguezExplaining the government's approach to managing earthquake debris.

The double earthquake, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, caused the collapse of at least 190 buildings and affected hundreds more. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the disaster generated over 1.2 million tons of debris, the disposal of which has become a significant controversy. Rodríguez firmly refuted the viral videos showing machinery dumping debris into the sea, calling the generated content "nonsense that causes harm."

The official death toll from the earthquake stands at 4,333, with 16,740 injured and over 17,000 displaced. The government has opted not to provide a number for the missing, stating they cannot "fall into speculation."

And tell this influencer, please, to retract it, they won't, but so you can see the type of nonsense that causes harm.

— Jorge RodríguezResponding to a journalist about an influencer's claims regarding debris disposal.
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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