- The USGS says a magnitude 4.6 aftershock hit north of Caracas.
- La Guaira in focus as round-the-clock search operations enter fifth day.
- Residents of El Junquito accuse the authorities of a slow and uneven aid response.
EL JUNQUITO: Frustration is rising across Venezuela over a lack of aid and a coordinated government response in areas hit by deadly twin earthquakes last Wednesday, residents of some hard-hit towns said Monday.
In El Junquito, a small mountainous region about 33 km (20 miles) west of Caracas where Venezuelans often vacation on weekends, residents say they have seen few government officials, while farmers and other residents have provided basic supplies to the community.
“We’re waiting for answers, for the mess to be cleaned up, for inspections, for people who have been really affected to be helped,” said Keily Ibarra, a 33-year-old manicurist who leads citizen complaints to authorities. She urged the government to do “what needs to be done.”
El Junquito’s commercial center was largely destroyed by the quakes, with collapsed buildings visible during a Reuters visit. Several residents, with nowhere else to go, have set up tents in open fields, despite the risk of damaged and collapsed buildings nearby.
“We don’t know where we’re going to be or how long we’re going to be here,” said Tony Abreu, the owner of a local candy store, who has been living in a tent since the earthquakes because his home and business are not safe.
Rising death toll
Elsewhere, a hotel collapsed near Maiquetia Airport where more than 140 people deported from the United States, including seven children, were staying while being processed by Venezuelan authorities, according to two families of deportees. Most are believed to have been killed.
The government’s Return to the Homeland Grand Mission, which manages the processing of deportees, had shared videos online on Wednesday of the arrivals, including children receiving toys.
While several international aid and rescue groups have mobilized to Venezuela, most aid has been focused on La Guaira, the hardest-hit state in a country long mired in deep political and economic crisis.
The international community has come together to help Venezuela deal with the disaster. Authorities said the oil-rich South American country has received aid from 30 nations, including 1,000 tons of supplies, more than 3,600 rescue and support workers and 118 search and rescue dogs.
The death toll continued to rise. Jorge Rodriguez, the acting president’s brother and president of the National Assembly, put the confirmed death toll at 1,719 on Monday, with 5,034 injured and 15,866 homeless.
Power outages on Monday have prevented a refinery, a petrochemical complex and other industrial facilities in the country’s central region from restarting, industry sources said.
Despite those problems, state-run oil company PDVSA did not expect any domestic fuel shortages as production from refineries in the country’s eastern and western regions is able to meet demand, even after increased use of rescue teams, they said.
Oil production and exports remained normal, the sources said.
Search for survivors amid aftershocks
Caracas residents’ homes were rocked by an aftershock early Monday as rescue teams searched around the clock for a fifth day.
The 4.6-magnitude aftershock struck north of Caracas early Monday at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), according to the US Geological Survey, but Rodriguez said no damage was immediately reported.
It was the latest of hundreds of aftershocks since last Wednesday that have rattled national and international rescue teams, each rescue raising hope as the window to find survivors dwindles.
Among the apparent miracles was the rescue of 21-year-old Aaron Levi from a collapsed building in the disaster-stricken state of La Guaira, pulled out after 106 hours trapped under the rubble in a rescue operation that lasted 43 hours, according to Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez.
After announcing the updated death toll, Assembly President Rodriguez said 15 shelters had been set up in La Guaira as well as 50 temporary camps to help people affected by the earthquakes.
He applauded Venezuelans for their calm and strength and blamed any anger against the government on misinformation.
“Do not pay attention to rumours, do not be led by manipulation strategies on social networks or by media manipulation that seeks nothing more than to increase unrest and anxiety,” Rodriguez said. “Official information is the only one that really has the truth to share with you.”
A senior U.S. administration official said three U.S. citizens are known to be dead and 12 are missing since the earthquakes, and that a State Department task force has fielded more than 300 calls from Americans seeking advice. Another official said they estimate there are approximately 5,000 US citizens in Venezuela.
