Venezuelans clean streets in La Guaira to combat pollution after earthquakes

Hundreds of Venezuelans joined a cleanup initiative in La Guaira, aiming to reduce pollution in the state most affected by a powerful double earthquake on June 24. Volunteers from various cities, including Caracas, Valencia, and Maracay, participated in the effort organized by the Sonrisa de Ángel Foundation. This marked the fifth such cleanup jornada, with volunteers collecting numerous bags of trash.

Participants, equipped with trash bags, gloves, protective eyewear, and masks, worked from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time. The effort focused on cleaning streets and beaches, such as El Yate beach in Caraballeda, one of the areas hardest hit by the disaster. The volunteers emphasized their goal of preventing infections and improving the environmental conditions in the affected region. Tools and transportation for the volunteers were funded by donations from citizens.

Collected trash was placed along main roads for collection by trucks, though activists noted that access to some areas remains difficult. Additionally, 35 new trash bins were distributed throughout La Guaira to help manage waste and further reduce ground contamination. Jofrer Romero, a local volunteer, expressed a desire to see the state recover, stating, "We are still broken but feel hope that the state can rise again." Yilkry Martínez, who runs a tourism company, shifted her focus to assisting La Guaira's recovery, urging businesses to continue donating necessary supplies for cleanup operations.

The June earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, reportedly caused at least 6,125 fatalities, according to the latest official report. Authorities have collected 346,755 tons of debris. The Minister of Public Works, Juan Ramírez Luces, reported that La Guaira has three debris crushing plants with a combined capacity to process over six hundred tons per hour, indicating ongoing efforts to clear the extensive damage.