AP

Venezuela searches for missing after landslide; 43 dead

Oct 10, 2022, 11:35 PM | Updated: Oct 11, 2022, 7:48 pm

View of Las Tejerias after a landslide and flood ripped through the town in Venezuela, Monday, Oct....

View of Las Tejerias after a landslide and flood ripped through the town in Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. The fatal landslide was fueled by days of torrential rain and floods that swept through this town in central Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

(AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)


              View of Las Tejerias after a landslide and flood ripped through the town in Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. The fatal landslide was fueled by days of torrential rain and floods that swept through this town in central Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Locals begin to rocover after a landslide and flood ripped through Las Tejerias in Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. The fatal landslide was fueled by days of torrential rain and floods that swept through this town in central Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Road paramedics from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, load a truck with donated clothes and food collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              A road paramedic from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, carries a baby carrier to a truck loaded with clothes and other donated materials collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Road paramedics from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, load a truck with donated clothes and food collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Volunteers from the baseball team Los Leones del Caracas wait for donations of clothes and food for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, at their stadium in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Victor Avila tries on pair of sneakers given to him after he survived a landslide that ripped through Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. Rescuers worked to clear rocks and mud from the streets, three days after the massive and deadly landslide, and expanded their search for any bodies buried under the sludge. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Rescue personnel carry their search dogs on their shoulders back to rest after searching for bodies at the site of a landslide that ripped through Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. Rescuers worked to clear rocks and mud from the streets, three days after the massive and deadly landslide, and expanded their search for any bodies buried under the sludge. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Volunteers from the baseball team Los Leones del Caracas wait for donations of clothes and food for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, at their stadium in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              A road paramedic from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, carries a baby carrier to a truck loaded with clothes and other donated materials collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Road paramedics from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, load a truck with donated clothes and food collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Road paramedics from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, load a truck with donated clothes and food collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Rescue personnel carry their search dogs on their shoulders back to rest after searching for bodies at the site of a landslide that ripped through Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. Rescuers worked to clear rocks and mud from the streets, three days after the massive and deadly landslide, and expanded their search for any bodies buried under the sludge. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Volunteers from the baseball team Los Leones del Caracas wait for donations of clothes and food for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, at their stadium in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              A road paramedic from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, carries a baby carrier to a truck loaded with clothes and other donated materials collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Road paramedics from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, load a truck with donated clothes and food collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Road paramedics from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, load a truck with donated clothes and food collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Rescue personnel carry their search dogs on their shoulders back to rest after searching for bodies at the site of a landslide that ripped through Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. Rescuers worked to clear rocks and mud from the streets, three days after the massive and deadly landslide, and expanded their search for any bodies buried under the sludge. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Volunteers from the baseball team Los Leones del Caracas wait for donations of clothes and food for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, at their stadium in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              A road paramedic from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, carries a baby carrier to a truck loaded with clothes and other donated materials collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Road paramedics from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, load a truck with donated clothes and food collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Road paramedics from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, load a truck with donated clothes and food collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Rescue personnel carry their search dogs on their shoulders back to rest after searching for bodies at the site of a landslide that ripped through Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. Rescuers worked to clear rocks and mud from the streets, three days after the massive and deadly landslide, and expanded their search for any bodies buried under the sludge. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Volunteers from the baseball team Los Leones del Caracas wait for donations of clothes and food for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, at their stadium in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Road paramedics from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, load a truck with donated clothes and food collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Road paramedics from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, load a truck with donated clothes and food collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              A road paramedic from the Transportation Ministry, better known as Road Angels, carries a baby carrier to a truck loaded with clothes and other donated materials collected in the capital for those affected by flooding and a massive landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. A landslide on Saturday night killed dozens in the town of Las Tejerías and left many homeless. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Women embrace in a flooded street outside their home in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. Days of heavy rain caused flash floods and overflowed Las Tejerias River. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Emanuel Sanchez works to remove mud from inside his flooded home in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. At least 22 people died after intense rain overflowed a ravine causing flash floods, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              A woman holds a baby in front of her home damaged by flooding in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. At least 22 people died after intense rain caused flash floods and the overflow of a ravine, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              A man holds his daughter next to an overflow revine that triggered flooding in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. At least 22 people died due to flash floods, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Erika Quintero stands in her home that was damaged after a landslide and flood ripped through Las Tejerias in Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. The fatal landslide was fueled by days of torrential rain and floods that swept through this town in central Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Locals cheers Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro as he visits the flood damaged area in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. A fatal landslide fueled by flooding and days of torrential rain swept through this town in central Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Local residents and relief workers pull a rope to remove wreckage in search for survivors from a home destroyed by flooding caused by heavy rains in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. At least 22 people died after intense rain overflowed a ravine causing flash floods, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores visit the area flooded in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. A fatal landslide fueled by flooding and days of torrential rain swept through this town in central Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Men carry clothes and a barrel with water after a landslide and flood ripped through Las Tejerias in Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. The fatal landslide was fueled by days of torrential rain and floods that swept through this town in central Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              The body of seven-year-old Angel Senprum is brought to a community health center amid flooding in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. A fatal landslide fueled by flooding and days of torrential rain swept through this town in central Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Magaly Colmenares cries as the body of her seven-year-old grandson Angel Senprum is brought to a community health center in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. A fatal landslide fueled by flooding and days of torrential rain swept through this town in central Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              The home of Jose Medina's family is in disarray after flooding in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. A fatal landslide fueled by flooding and days of torrential rain swept through this town in central Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              A cat named Oreo peers from its home that was flooded in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. A fatal landslide fueled by flooding and days of torrential rain swept through this town in central Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Jose Medina, center, embraces his granddaughter Enderly as neighbors stand by outside their family home that was flooded in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. A fatal landslide fueled by flooding and days of torrential rain swept through this town in central Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              A Venezuelan flag hangs at a home full of mud where the search for bodies continues after flooding Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. A fatal landslide fueled by flooding and days of torrential rain swept through this town in central Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)G
            
              A car sits in a flooded street in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. Days of heavy rains overflowed Las Tejerias river and caused flash floods. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Jose Medina jumps out his home flooded by the overflow of a ravine caused by intense rains in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              A man reunites with his dog, rescued by neighbors from the mud, after flooding caused by intense rains in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, after (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
            
              Residents walk through the debris left by flooding caused by a river that overflowed after days of intense rain in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Rescuers worked to clear rocks and mud from the streets of a north-central city in Venezuela on Tuesday, three days after it was hit by a massive and deadly landslide, and expanded their search for any bodies buried under the sludge.

Officials raised the death toll from the slide in Las Tejerias to at least 43 and warned that it could go up further as bodies are found downstream from the hardest-hit neighborhoods. Crews extended their search perimeter to include that area, along a river located about a mile (2 kilometers) outside the city.

At least 56 people were said to be missing, and some local residents have joined in the hunt for them.

Magaly Colmenares said she was with a group of firefighters that recovered the body of her grandson Monday from a house swamped by mud. The corpse was taken to a health center that has been pressed into service as a morgue.

“He was buried with a man who tried to help him and his 3-month-old sister,” Colmenares said. “I found my angel, and we have to look for his little sister too.”

Fifty miles away in the capital, Caracas, several organizations collected donations for survivors. Among them was the Leones professional baseball club, which asked fans to give goods such as food, water, clothes and baby formula.

One supporter, Juan Carlos Gómez, showed up at the team’s stadium with bags full of clothes, saying, “These are things that one does not use, but many people may need them.”

Gómez added that his wife’s family had been affected by landslides that left more than 70,000 people homeless in 1999, so “I know what it feels like.”

Officials said more than 300 homes, 15 businesses and a school were destroyed in Las Tejerias, which is located along Venezuela’s main industrial corridor.

In a rare public appearance, President Nicolás Maduro visited the city and toured affected neighborhoods Monday.

The socialist leader said everyone affected by the disaster would be given new homes, adding that the city of 50,000 would “rise like a phoenix.”

“Nobody will be abandoned,” Maduro said.

Maduro told journalists he would welcome international assistance, without giving further details. His administration has historically been reluctant to take humanitarian aid from Western nations, though it has accepted food and medical supplies from Russia and China.

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