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| Venezuela landslides: Dozens killed as homes swept away | Venezuela landslides: Dozens killed as homes swept away |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Volunteer rescuers, completely covered in mud, receive medical treatment after being attacked by wasps while removing debris | |
| The number of people killed has risen to 36, and 56 others are missing, after landslides swept away their homes in the Venezuelan town of Las Tejerías. | The number of people killed has risen to 36, and 56 others are missing, after landslides swept away their homes in the Venezuelan town of Las Tejerías. |
| About 1,000 emergency personnel are taking part in search and rescue operations. | About 1,000 emergency personnel are taking part in search and rescue operations. |
| "We're trying to save whoever we can and are expressing our condolences to all those who have lost a loved one," Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez said. | "We're trying to save whoever we can and are expressing our condolences to all those who have lost a loved one," Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez said. |
| President Nicolás Maduro has declared three days of national mourning. | President Nicolás Maduro has declared three days of national mourning. |
| Among those killed are two toddlers, local media said. | Among those killed are two toddlers, local media said. |
| Earlier reports said 25 people had been killed, but interior and justice minister Remigio Ceballos told reporters the number had risen to 36. | Earlier reports said 25 people had been killed, but interior and justice minister Remigio Ceballos told reporters the number had risen to 36. |
| Torrential rainfall caused the river El Pato to burst its banks. The resulting floodwaters swept away, trees, cars, houses and shops in the town, some 50km south-west of the capital, Caracas. | Torrential rainfall caused the river El Pato to burst its banks. The resulting floodwaters swept away, trees, cars, houses and shops in the town, some 50km south-west of the capital, Caracas. |
| On the walls of the houses, thick mud showed how high the floodwaters had risen. | On the walls of the houses, thick mud showed how high the floodwaters had risen. |
| Residents found their homes and belongings caked in mud | Residents found their homes and belongings caked in mud |
| One man told AFP he had survived by clinging on to an antenna for 40 minutes while his home and others were swept away. "The river caught me and I couldn't find anything to do besides climb a roof and grab on to an antenna," the 65-year-old said. | One man told AFP he had survived by clinging on to an antenna for 40 minutes while his home and others were swept away. "The river caught me and I couldn't find anything to do besides climb a roof and grab on to an antenna," the 65-year-old said. |
| Carmen Meléndez, who has lived in the town her whole life, said: "The village is lost. Las Tejerías is lost." | Carmen Meléndez, who has lived in the town her whole life, said: "The village is lost. Las Tejerías is lost." |
| An aerial photo shows the trail of destruction the landslide left | An aerial photo shows the trail of destruction the landslide left |
| According to Efe news agency, the electricity supply to the town has been cut, leaving it in darkness. | According to Efe news agency, the electricity supply to the town has been cut, leaving it in darkness. |
| Residents dug through the cloying mud by hand to try to find survivors. They were joined by sniffer dogs and specialised search teams. | Residents dug through the cloying mud by hand to try to find survivors. They were joined by sniffer dogs and specialised search teams. |
| Interior Minister Remigio Ceballos said the landslides had been caused by Hurricane Julia, which passed just north of Venezuela. | Interior Minister Remigio Ceballos said the landslides had been caused by Hurricane Julia, which passed just north of Venezuela. |
| "There was a record rainfall, as much rain in one day as is usually seen in a month," he said. | "There was a record rainfall, as much rain in one day as is usually seen in a month," he said. |