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A landslide triggered by floods and days of torrential rain swept through a town in central Venezuela, killing at least 22 people as it dragged mud, rocks and trees across the neighborhood.
Residents of Las Tejerias in the agro-industrial town of Santos Michelina, Aragua, 54 miles southwest of Caracas, had seconds to reach safety as debris swept down the hillside.
Vice President Delci Rodriguez told state-run Venezuelan television that the official death toll rose to 22 after 20 bodies were found on Sunday.
“There was a massive landslide in the center of Las Steghrias,” and five streams overflowed, she said at the disaster site. “We have located 22 dead and over 52 people are missing.”
“There are still people surrounded,” Ms Rodriguez said. “We’re trying to rescue them, bring them back to life.”
She said shelters will be set up for those who have lost their homes.
Carlos Perez Ampueda, undersecretary of risk management and civil protection, said rescuers were using trained dogs and drones to conduct the search. Workers and crews of heavy machinery removed debris to clear roads and restore power and water service.
Aragua Governor Karina Carpio said the floods had “severely affected” 21 districts in the capital of the city of Santos Michelna, Raste Jerias, which has about 54,000 inhabitants.
Heavy rains have caused flooding in 11 of Venezuela’s 23 states over the past week.
President Nicolas Maduro said 20.000 officials, including aid workers and members of the security forces, have been deployed to the affected areas.
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