Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—On Sunday, Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez reported that she ordered the activation of the Civil Protection system to respond to damage caused by Tropical Wave No. 40, which produced heavy rains in Venezuela’s Northern Central region and in Caracas, particularly impacting El Valle, La Vega, San Antonio, Coche and Altamira.
Rodríguez said emergency responders remain on alert and are constantly monitoring the events, which she described as a consequence of climate change. She ordered immediate actions to assist those affected.
“I have instructed Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and the head of Civil Protection, Admiral Oti Paituvi, to activate the Civil Protection system to address the effects of these severe rains,” Rodríguez said.
“We remain alert, attentive, and constantly monitoring the situation through our protection and management mechanisms in the face of these types of weather events currently affecting our country, and we are ready and prepared to address them,” she added, urging the public to remain calm and consult official channels for accurate information on weather conditions and preventative measures.
Meléndez: brigades deployed in critical parishes
Mayor of Caracas Carmen Meléndez reported that following intense rainfall on Saturday night, it was necessary to specially activate brigades in critical areas of the capital. “We are monitoring each parish in real time to clear roads, address vegetation, and monitor waterways. We remain attentive to reports for the immediate attention of any possible incident,” she said.
Meléndez said mayor’s teams will remain attentive to citizen reports to offer an immediate response to any incident and reiterated a call for the population to take extreme precautionary measures while the storm continues.
Municipal authorities respond across metropolitan area
Baruta Mayor Darwin González reported via social media that local authorities are deployed in the municipality to monitor and respond to emergencies. “They are currently in the Coracrevi ravine, which has returned to normal levels. Afterwards, they will head to Alto Prado, where we received a report of a fallen tree following the heavy rains,” he said.
Chacao Mayor Gustavo Duque called on residents to take precautions and shared municipal emergency numbers as his office monitors the situation.
The Caracas metropolitan area comprises five municipalities: Libertador, Sucre, Baruta, Chacao, and El Hatillo.
Guaire River overflow and highway closures
An overflow of the Guaire River near El Valle parish was reported as one of the most impactful events affecting Caracas during the storm. Nahum Fernández, head of government of the Capital District, said prevention and security forces remain deployed in various points in Caracas to respond to the emergency.
He reported clearing and cleaning work on the Valle–Coche highway, saying the road would be closed for approximately three hours to remove sediments and debris accumulated by the heavy rains. “We have approximately 700 workers, including the National Police, the ZODI Capital Corps, the Fire Department, Civil Protection and the various security entities, together with the Services Corporation, to be able to clear this area,” he said on social media.
Fernández added that attention is not limited to the highway area and that teams are deployed across other affected areas in Caracas, supporting residents and maintaining constant direct communication with Acting President Rodriguez.
Nearly 100 people were rescued near the Valle–Coche highway. Fire Chief Pablo Palacios said floodwaters affected the Valle Abajo Fire Station.
He reported that near the Simón Bolívar Stadium, a woman of approximately 30 years of age who was traveling on a motorcycle with her daughter skidded due to the rains and was “swept away by the river.” They are now considered missing.
It was reported that 20 people were affected by flooding in El Valle. They were assisted by emergency services and taken to health centers. Flooding affected between 60 and 70 vehicles in the area.
Los Teques and Guaicaipuro: homes damaged, people missing
In Los Teques, in the Guaicaipuro municipality, 36 homes were damaged, and two people are missing, Mayor Farith Fraija said early on Sunday. He reported that a vehicle fell into the El Alambique ravine with three people inside, including one minor who managed to escape and was treated by rescue teams. Search efforts continue for the vehicle’s other two occupants.
“What we experienced today in Los Teques was intense. More than six hours of continuous rain tested us, and in the El Alambique ravine, the water got out of control. The current was so strong that it swept away a vehicle, leaving two people missing. Believe me, that hurts us deeply and motivates us to act without delay,” Fraija said.
Aragua: vehicle swept away, ongoing search
In Aragua state, two people were reported missing after a pickup truck was swept away by rising waters in the Aragua River, Mayor Juan Carlos Sánchez of the José Félix Ribas municipality reported. He identified the missing individuals as Zuleika Morillo and Eduardo Barbera.
On the morning of August 23, authorities announced the vehicle had been located. “An initial dive was conducted with safety equipment and following all protocol. No one was found inside the vehicle,” Sánchez said. The search for the people who were in the car continues. Officials also stated they have been in communication with the families.
Venezuela’s Reconstruction Plan Advances as Earthquake Death Toll Reaches 6,438
Heavy rains, earthquake, US sanctions, and electricity stress
Venezuela, already affected by the catastrophic June 24 earthquake, has been experiencing an intensified rainy season that historically runs through October and November.
The country has suffered a sharp deterioration of its electricity grid amid over a decade of illegal US sanctions. The earthquake and recent heavy rains have increased stress on the system, with reports of electricity blackouts multiplying across the country in recent days.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/SF
