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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Disasters & Emergencies

Venezuelan NGO urges government response proportional to earthquake tragedy

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • The Venezuelan NGO Provea urged Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to ensure a state response proportional to the magnitude of the earthquake tragedy.
  • Provea documented decomposition odors and bodies still under rubble in Caraballeda, with civilians conducting searches without technical tools.
  • The NGO called for adequate search and rescue teams, expedited identification of bodies, and transparent victim counts, citing official figures of 1,430 deaths and over 5,000 missing.

The Venezuelan NGO Provea has called on Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to provide a state response proportionate to the devastation caused by recent earthquakes. A documentation mission in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, revealed disturbing scenes, according to the organization.

What we found in Caraballeda (La Guaira) on our documentation mission: Smell of decomposition in two different moments and zones. Bodies still under the rubble. Bodies already rescued waiting hours to be transferred.

— ProveaDescribing the scene in Caraballeda after the earthquakes.

Provea reported smelling decomposition in multiple areas and witnessing bodies still trapped under collapsed buildings. Civilians were reportedly conducting rescue efforts without technical equipment, struggling to hear signs of life amidst the noise. Some volunteers had been working for over 24 hours continuously.

The NGO emphasized the Venezuelan state's obligation to deploy search and rescue teams with appropriate tools, expedite the transfer and identification of deceased individuals, and provide transparent figures on victims and the missing. Provea stated, "The state has the obligation to guarantee a response proportional to the magnitude of the tragedy."

More than 10 buildings collapsed. Neighbors and civilians were undertaking searches without technical tools, with one or two rescuers per building. The constant noise made it difficult to hear signs of life under the rubble. One of the volunteers had been on a continuous rescue shift for more than 24 hours.

— ProveaDetailing the civilian rescue efforts and the challenging conditions.

Official figures indicate at least 1,430 people have died, with 3,238 injured and over 5,000 receiving hospital treatment. Additionally, a UN official reported that more than 50,000 people are missing.

The state has the obligation to guarantee a response proportional to the magnitude of the tragedy.

— ProveaStating the government's responsibility in the face of 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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