Venezuelan Parliament Honors Lawmaker Killed in Double Earthquake

The National Assembly of Venezuela held a moment of applause to honor Jessica Carolina de León, a lawmaker from the ruling party, and her daughter, who perished in the devastating earthquakes that struck the country nearly three weeks prior. The double seismic event registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.

Jorge Rodríguez, the president of the National Assembly, led the tribute during the first session convened since the earthquakes, which have resulted in at least 4,734 confirmed fatalities. He specifically mentioned De León, who represented the Esequibo region, and her daughter, along with seven other officials from the state of La Guaira, which was the most severely affected area.

De León was a member of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and represented the Guayana Esequiba, a state established through popular vote that corresponds to a territory claimed by Venezuela but administered by Guyana. Her death, along with her daughter's and other officials, occurred in La Guaira, a state that bore the brunt of the earthquake's destruction.

The parliamentary session itself was relocated. The main building of the National Assembly in Caracas suffered damage, leading Rodríguez to declare that "sufficient safety conditions" were not met for deputies to work there. Consequently, sessions will now take place in a convention hall in eastern Caracas, specifically in La Carlota.