Venezuela Earthquake Airport Set to Resume Commercial Flights
Reporting based primarily on channelnewsasia.com.
Venezuela's Simon Bolivar International Airport in La Guaira, the epicenter of the June 24 earthquakes that killed more than 3,500 people, will reopen to commercial flights as soon as possible using an alternative runway. [2] The Venezuela earthquake has left the facility partially open only to humanitarian flights in the weeks since the disaster struck. [2]
Death Toll and Identification Challenges
The twin earthquakes of magnitudes 7.3 and 7.5 on June 24 toppled scores of residential buildings, left thousands homeless, and left thousands more still missing, especially in La Guaira. [2] A Venezuelan cemetery is expanding burials for earthquake victims, many of whom remain unidentified. [1] One of Latin America's worst earthquake disasters has left thousands of people homeless and thousands more still missing, especially in the badly damaged La Guaira area. [2] Nearly two weeks after the quakes, international rescue teams are ending survivor searches while families look for bodies in the ruins; the UN estimates up to 50,000 people were unaccounted for shortly after the disaster. [2] Two days after the quakes, the United Nations estimated as many as 50,000 people were still unaccounted for, though the government has yet to give any estimate on the number of missing. [2]
Airport Reopening Plans
Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez said on Tuesday (Jul 7) the international airport damaged in last month's twin earthquakes would reopen as soon as possible using an alternative runway. [2] Simon Bolivar International Airport is in La Guaira, north of Caracas and epicentre of the June 24 quakes that toppled scores of residential buildings and killed more than 3,500 people. [2] The airport has been partially open to humanitarian flights, with US military personnel assisting in air traffic control, ground cargo operations, and repairs to the quake-hit port in La Guaira. [2] "I ordered the immediate activation of an alternative plan to allow commercial flights to resume as soon as possible using the airport's parallel runway," Rodriguez said in a message on her Telegram account. [2] There is some work to do in terms of the infrastructure to support commercial operations at the airport, according to US embassy Charge d'Affaires John Barrett. [2]
Venezuela's Simon Bolivar International Airport in La Guaira will reopen to commercial flights soon. — Source: channelnewsasia
Disaster Response and International Assistance
US airmen and military experts have been helping to reopen the airport and also repair the quake-hit port in La Guaira to help delivery of supplies and equipment. [2] Speaking to reporters on a conference call, US embassy Charge d'Affaires John Barrett said US officials were already in talks with American commercial airlines to resume flights. [2] US Southern Command chief General Francis Donovan said US military personnel were still assisting with air traffic control and ground cargo operations at the airport. [2] Around 2,000 troops have been deployed in Venezuela to help with disaster relief, and US helicopters and planes often land at the airport. [2] The USS Fort Lauderdale naval vessel is also docked at La Guaira port to help with aid deliveries. [2]
Impact on Residents and Infrastructure
Residents and rescue workers search through the rubble of buildings damaged in the Venezuela earthquake. [2] Nearly two weeks after the 7.3 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes, international rescue teams are ending attempts to find survivors while families scour the ruins for the bodies of their loved ones. [2] Thousands are now homeless and sleeping in tents outside destroyed buildings or in temporary camps for those who have been displaced. [2] "They looted the supermarket so they are not opening anymore," said Estefany Suarez, a mother of two young children who is living out of a tent. [2] "I am hoping I can stay in La Guaira, I don't want to end up in one of the camps." [2] Rescuers search through debris in the aftermath of the Jun 24 earthquakes, in La Guaira, Venezuela. [2]
Economic and Humanitarian Needs
The quakes caused an estimated US$6.7 billion in damage, equivalent to 6% of Venezuela's GDP, amid the country's pre-existing economic crisis and depleted infrastructure. [2] Even before the disaster, Venezuela was struggling with economic crisis and political turmoil that left infrastructure and health services depleted. [2] The UN estimates the quakes caused US$6.7 billion in damage - equivalent to six percent of the GDP of Venezuela, a major oil producer. [2] The UN refugee agency has said it needs an estimated US$14.85 million to scale up protection, relief items and temporary shelter support for 30,000 earthquake-affected people over six months. [2]
What to watch next: US officials remain in talks with American commercial airlines to resume flights once infrastructure work at the airport advances, while the UN refugee agency continues efforts to provide shelter support for those displaced by the disaster.
