Death toll from floods in western Venezuela rises to at least 20 weather news

When rescuers searched for wreckage in Merida, more than 1,200 houses were destroyed and 17 people were missing.

At least 20 people died in the western state of Merida in Venezuela due to heavy rains causing mudslides and rivers to flood.

On state television on Wednesday, a ruling Socialist Party official in Merida announced the death toll has risen and said that the authorities are working to restore telephone service in certain areas.

Governor Ramon Guevara said earlier that when rescuers were searching for wreckage, more than 1,200 houses had been destroyed and 17 people were still missing.

“Let us try not to turn this into politics or ideology,” said Guevara, a member of the Opposition Party of Democratic Action. “Let everyone find a solution to the problem together.”

Images shared on social media showed that cars were washed onto the streets, buildings and businesses were full of dirt, and mudslides caused boulders to be scattered on the road.

Guevara said that several towns in the affected area, including Tovar, Bairadores, Zea and Santa Cruz de Mora, were cut off due to flooding damaged transformers.

He said that neither the state nor the city have the resources to help the disaster-stricken areas, but he has hired infrastructure experts to work with Caracas to repair buildings and roads.

President Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday that Tareck El Aissami, the oil minister, has pledged to provide fuel for rescue efforts.

Interior Minister Remigio Ceballos told national television on Wednesday that at least 54,543 people in 87 cities were affected, in addition to the damage to roads and bridges. He said the states that are still in a state of emergency include Merida, Tachira, Zulia, Apure, Amazon, Bolivar, Amacuro Delta, Monagas and Aragua.

So far, in addition to members of the armed forces stationed in the area, 80 firefighters and 60 civil defense officers from Merida have also been deployed for emergency operations.

Guevara instructed officials to organize a humanitarian aid collection station in downtown Mérida, where they receive water, non-perishable food, clothing and blankets. Guevara also deployed health workers to the worst-hit places.