LAS TEJER脥AS, Venezuela (AP) 鈥 A day after burying his mother, Rafael Negr铆n on Wednesday carried the coffin of his aunt who also died in floods and landslides in central Venezuela that killed at least 43 people and left dozens missing.
In total, Negr铆n lost three family members 鈥 his mother and two of her sisters 鈥 who were swept away by floodwaters in Las Tejer铆as de Santos Michelena, an agro-industrial municipality in the state of Aragua, about 54 miles (87 kilometers) from the capital of Caracas. The body of the second aunt has yet to be found.
The flooding and landslide followed torrential rains that caused a mountainside to collapse on the town late Saturday. Residents say they had just second to escape to safety before the water, mud, rocks and felled trees descended on their neighborhoods.
鈥淚t's very painful,鈥 said Negr铆n, who is also sad at seeing the place where he grew up destroyed. 鈥淭he rest of us were saved, my daughter was saved.鈥
Venezuela鈥檚 civil protection agency says 400 houses were destroyed and 800 others were damaged. Fifty-six people are still listed as missing.
Authorities say the death toll is expected to climb as heavy machinery moves debris left by the landslides and flooding.
Negr铆n said that while he is sad, at least he found the body of his mother, Senobia Rodr铆guez Agrizones, and was able to bury her Tuesday. He said neighbors were still searching for their mother.
鈥淢y mother is there. We know she is there,鈥 he said. 鈥淣ow we must recharge our strength for our nephews, for our children.鈥
With many businesses and services destroyed in the municipality of 54,000 people, the survivors are struggling to get by in the disaster areas.
Electricity and mobile telephone service has been restored to Las Tejer铆as, but land lines and water service remain down as the landslide destroyed telephone wires, water pipes and pumping equipment.
Authorities estimate two dozen businesses and companies were affected, including a Chinese-made Chery vehicle assembly plant as well as a high school and two primary schools.
Most of the people reported as missing, including many children, are from the El B茅isbol and La Agotada neighborhoods to the north of the municipality.
President Nicol谩s Maduro, who walked one of the most flooded streets on Monday with his wife, Cilia Flores, has promised to support the residents of Las Tejer铆as.
He said his administration would rebuild homes and businesses and help those who want to leave the affected area move elsewhere. Several shelters and aid collection centers have been set up near Las Tejer铆as.
