The port of La Guaira, Venezuela, has turned into an open-air morgue after last week’s earthquakes. Bodies found in the rubble of the coastal municipality are taken to Bolipuerto (Venezuelan state-owned ports used for commercial purposes), where they remain covered with black bags under temperatures above 30°C, in different stages of decomposition. When the report visited the site, it was estimated that at least 200 bodies were there.Outside, dozens of relatives wait in rows of chairs to identify their loved ones. The latest official figure counts 1,719 deaths, a number expected to be higher — the UN said it is purchasing 10,000 body bags in the country.
Teams use lime bags to slow decomposition and reduce the smell. Many residents wear masks to lessen the smell of death, which grows stronger each day. On the streets, the smell of excrement is also present, a result of the lack of infrastructure for more than 15,000 displaced people. A rescuer sent from another state reported that on Sunday (28), a father and a 7-year-old boy were pulled alive from the rubble.
Authorities say nearly 900 buildings were affected, with 189 completely destroyed, most of them in La Guaira. Aftershocks spread panic and increase fears of further collapses.
