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)
The Associated Press
LAS TEJERÃAS, Venezuela (AP) - A landslide fueled by flooding and days of torrential rain swept through a municipality in central Venezuela, leaving at least 22 people dead as it dragged mud, rocks and trees through neighborhoods, authorities said Sunday. Dozens of people are missing.
Residents of Las TejerÃas in Santos Michelena, an agro-industrial town in Aragua state 54 miles (87 kilometers) southwest of Caracas, had just seconds to reach safety late Saturday as debris swept down a mountainside onto them.
The official death toll rose to 22 after the recovery of 20 bodies on Sunday, Vice President Delcy RodrÃguez told state-owned Venezolana de Televisión.
'œThere was a large landslide in the central area of Las TejerÃas'ť where five streams overflowed, she said from the scene of the disaster. 'œWe have already found 22 dead people; there are more than 52 missing.'ť
'œThere are still people walled in," RodrÃguez said. "We are trying to rescue them, to rescue them alive.'ť
She said shelters will be set up for people who lost their homes.
Hours earlier, Major Gen. Carlos Pérez Ampueda, the vice minister for risk management and civil protection, had said via Twitter that several people were reported missing in the El Béisbol and La Agotada neighborhoods in the north of the town. Dozens of homes were damaged by the landslide.
Rescuers were carrying out search operations with trained dogs and drones, Pérez Ampueda said. Crews of workers and heavy machinery removed debris to clear roads and restore electricity and water services.
Aragua Gov. Karina Carpio said the flood waters 'œterribly affected'ť 21 sectors in Las TejerÃas, capital of the Santos Michelena municipality, which has some 54,000 inhabitants.
During the past week, torrential rains have caused flooding in 11 of Venezuela's 23 states.
President Nicolás Maduro said 20.000 officials, including rescuers and members of security forces, have been deployed to affected regions.
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)
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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)
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Men drag a live pig they found stuck in mud after flooding caused by intense rains in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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A boy carries sneakers he found amidst the rubble caused by flooding in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. At least two people died after days of heavy rain caused flash flooding and the overflow of a ravine. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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Residents sit outside a health center waiting for news from missing relatives after flooding in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. At least two people died after days of heavy rain caused flash flooding and the overflow of a ravine. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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Cars are piled up in a workshop after intense rains caused flash flooding and overflowed Las Tejerias river in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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Men carry a dog rescued from the mud after flooding caused by intense rains in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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Karen Salinas holds her cat next to her home damaged by flooding in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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Residents embrace in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, after intense rain caused a river to overflow flooding the town. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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Residents look at damaged caused by flooding in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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Residents cross a bridge damaged 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)
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Local residents clean up homes damaged by floods in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, after days of heavy rain caused flash floods. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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Streets are flooded after heavy rains caused a river to overflow in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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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)
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A woman cries as she searches for a missing relative in a flooded area in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. Days of heavy rains caused flash floods and overflowed a river. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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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)
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A neighbor, right, comforts a woman crying in front of her damaged home by flooding in Las Tejerias, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, after days of heavy rains caused the overflow of a river. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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