In Aragua, a central state of Venezuela, at least three people lost their lives when the river overflowed after days of heavy rain in Maracay, the region’s capital located roughly 120 kilometers from Caracas. Authorities confirmed that the flooding damaged El Castaño park and surrounding neighborhoods, with officials describing a deadly mudslide descending from the mountains. The same state has already faced tragedy in Las Tejerías, where a landslide nine days earlier claimed 54 lives.
President Nicolás Maduro said he would travel to the affected area, located about 50 minutes from Las Tejerías, to oversee the emergency response and bolster relief efforts. He highlighted the region where cities and towns lie along the mountain foothills and remarked that Aragua had been severely affected by the persistent rains and tropical disturbance. Shortly after his remarks, state television channel Telesur reported that the president had arrived in El Castaño accompanied by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and other officials.
On the ground, Maduro ordered the deployment of 300 soldiers to begin recovery operations and to support ongoing relief work. He called on neighboring states to mobilize additional military units and to coordinate with local authorities to extend assistance. He described the situation as two simultaneous emergencies: two war fronts, two devastating fronts, in his words, as he toured El Castaño. Widespread social media posts showed the extent of the damage, with images of flooded homes, vehicles carried by floodwaters, and toppled trees along the affected corridors.
54 dead already by landslide
The landslide event in Las Tejerías last week has been confirmed to have caused 54 deaths, a figure that rose by four from the last official update on Friday. Maduro noted that eight people remain missing and rescue efforts continue. During remarks, the president announced the approval of a special economic fund for Las Tejerías to finance the broader restoration of the city. He stated that the fund would be deployed without the usual protocol, intermediaries, or bureaucratic paperwork to speed up assistance and recovery in the wake of the disaster. The public funding is intended to support a comprehensive reconstruction plan for Tejerías, addressing housing, infrastructure, and public services in the affected area.
Maduro urged business leaders and financial institutions across the country to participate in the recovery initiative. He referenced international resources and stressed the importance of mobilizing all available means to aid the affected population, situated roughly 70 kilometers from Caracas. The president also noted progress in cleanup and coordination, saying the response had advanced from an initial stage to a more organized effort, with 75 machines dedicated to clearing debris and sediment from the impacted zones.
With respect to utilities, Maduro reported that electricity had been restored to nearly full capacity and water services had reached about eighty percent restoration. He added that, while efforts to rebuild schools in the region would continue, conditions existed to resume classes for children and youth in Las Tejerías by the following Wednesday, underscoring the commitment to normalcy alongside ongoing relief operations.