Venezuela starts mass burials for earthquake victims as death toll hits 3,535

Mass burials have commenced at La Esperanza Cemetery in the coastal city of La Guaira, Venezuela, following a recent disaster that left dozens of bodies unclaimed. Local officials confirmed that the cemetery’s main chapel was converted into a temporary morgue to accommodate the influx, and that families were being urged to identify remains through DNA testing and personal belongings. The disaster, attributed to severe flooding and landslides triggered by days of heavy rain, caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure across the region, prompting a coordinated response from municipal authorities, the National Guard, and humanitarian organizations.

The government has pledged additional resources to support ongoing rescue and recovery operations, including the deployment of medical teams and the establishment of a temporary shelter for displaced residents. International aid groups have also been dispatched to assist with forensic identification and to provide counseling services to affected families. Authorities emphasized that the mass burial process will continue until all victims are accounted for, and they urged the public to remain patient as the investigation into the disaster’s causes proceeds.