The Daily Journal — La Guaira Governor José Alejandro Terán reported that authorities have received reports of 1,338 missing people one month after the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck Venezuela’s central coast. He added that officials still need to verify the figure by cross-checking multiple databases.
Terán shared the information during a radio interview on Thursday. He explained that authorities compiled the reports through the Unified Housing Registry and other mechanisms established after the disaster.
“One hundred thousand residents of La Guaira have already registered through the Unified Housing Registry, where they have reported 1,338 missing people,” the governor said, according to statements released by Unión Radio.
Terán stressed that the figure does not yet represent a final tally because authorities have also received reports through telephone hotlines and emergency assistance centers.
“We are cross-checking all these figures within a single system so we can produce an official report on this number, which remains one of the most difficult to determine,” he said.
According to the governor, 95,080 people have participated in the Unified Housing Registry.
Terán also said that reports of fatalities submitted by relatives match the official figures released by the government, although he did not provide an updated death toll during the interview.
Catia La Mar and other parishes sustained the heaviest damage
The governor said the earthquakes affected about 8.55% of La Guaira’s territory. The disaster caused at least 180 buildings to collapse and damaged another 750 structures.
Catia La Mar, Urimare, Macuto, and Caraballeda suffered the greatest impact from the twin earthquakes.
Authorities have inspected 10,414 structures, including homes, apartment buildings, commercial properties, and other facilities. Inspectors classified 4,825 as safe for occupancy, identified 2,715 as medium risk, and placed 2,874 in the high-risk category. Officials will conduct additional evaluations to determine whether those structures require demolition or repairs.
The governor said crews are currently rehabilitating 3,938 homes and apartments to allow displaced families to return.
“Tomorrow (Friday), we will hand over the first 60 rehabilitated homes in El Trébol so families can leave the tents where they have been staying and return to their apartments,” he said.
About 20,000 people remain in temporary camps
Terán said approximately 20,000 people continue to live in temporary camps established after the emergency.
He stated that the camps provide basic services, meals, medical care, and psychosocial support.
“Our temporary camps provide three hot meals a day plus a snack. They also offer 24-hour medical services and psychosocial care,” he said.
The governor also highlighted the availability of showers, laundry facilities, recreational areas, beds, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems in some camps.
Government rules out promoting tourism in the short term
Terán said La Guaira is not yet ready to resume tourism promotion because cleanup and reconstruction efforts remain underway.
“I do not believe conditions exist in the short term to promote tourism in this state,” he said.
The governor explained that crews continue to remove debris and that tourist activity could interfere with heavy machinery operating in affected areas.
According to Terán, workers have cleared more than 2.1 million units of debris. Authorities have also established working groups with more than 4,000 tourism service providers to support the recovery of beaches, resorts, public facilities, and recreational areas.
The regional government has also launched an employment program for people living in temporary camps so they can participate in reconstruction efforts.
Terán said the initiative seeks to provide disaster victims with “decent jobs” while allowing them to “be part of the reconstruction of the state.”
Source: Unión Radio.
