How many people died in the 1999 floods in Venezuela?

How many people died in the 1999 floods in Venezuela?

Venezuela mud slides of 1999, devastating mud slides in Venezuela in December 1999. An estimated 190,000 people were evacuated, but thousands of others, likely between 10,000 and 30,000, were killed.

How many people died in the Vargas mudslide?

Entire towns including Cerro Grande and Carmen de Uria completely disappeared. As much as 10% of the population of Vargas died during the event….Vargas tragedy.

A part of Vargas state after the 1999 mudslides
Date 5 December 1999 – 21 December 1999
Deaths 10,000–30,000
Location of Vargas in Venezuela

What caused the 1999 Vargas tragedy?

Heavy rainfall from the storm of December 14-16, 1999 triggered thousands of landslides on steep slopes of the Sierra de Avila north of Caracas, Venezuela. In addition to landslides, heavy rainfall caused flooding and massive debris flows that damaged coastal communities in the State of Vargas along the Caribbean Sea.

What happened during the Vargas tragedy?

The Vargas tragedy was a natural disaster that occurred in Vargas State, Venezuela on 14–16 December 1999, when torrential rains caused flash floods and debris flows that killed tens of thousands of people, destroyed thousands of homes, and led to the complete collapse of the state’s infrastructure.

How fast is a debris flow?

Debris flows can travel at speeds up to and exceeding 35 mph and can carry large items such as boulders, trees, and cars. If a debris flows enters a steep stream channel, they can travel for several miles, impacting areas unaware of the hazard.

What kind of natural disasters happen in Venezuela?

Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and mudslides can happen in Venezuela.

How can we prevent mudslides?

How do you protect your home or building from mudslides?

  1. Vegetation is a great defense against mudslides.
  2. Retaining walls can also prevent mudslides and mudslide damage.
  3. Channels, diversion barriers, and deflection walls can help redirect the flow away from property.

Where was the Vargas tragedy?

Vargas
Vargas tragedy/Location

What natural disasters happen in Venezuela?

What do debris flows look like?

Definition: A Debris Flow is basically a fast-moving landslide made up of liquefied, unconsolidated, and saturated mass that resembles flowing concrete. In this respect, they are not dissimilar from avalanches, where unconsolidated ice and snow cascades down the surface of a mountain, carrying trees and rocks with it.

Is Venezuela prone to earthquakes?

Venezuela is vulnerable to earthquakes. Monitor media reports and follow the advice of the local authorities. To learn more about what to do before, during and after an earthquake, see the website of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Where was the mudslide in Venezuela in 1999?

On December 15 and 16, 1999, a large scale disaster caused by debris flows and floods in the Vargas State along the Caribbean Sea and also in the Caracas Metropolitan Area, resulted in a huge amount of casualties and damage. In the Vargas State, the disaster destroyed lifelines such as roads and drinking water supply…

What was the disaster in Venezuela in 1999?

On December 15 and 16, 1999, a large scale disaster caused by debris flows and floods in the Vargas State along the Caribbean Sea and also in the Caracas Metropolitan Area, resulted in a huge amount of casualties and damage.

How many people died in the mud slides in 1999?

An estimated 190,000 people were evacuated, but thousands of others, likely between 10,000 and 30,000, were killed. Over the course of 10 days in December 1999, torrential rains inundated the mountainous regions of Venezuela, causing deadly mud slides that devastated the state of Vargas and other areas in the northern part of the country.

How many people died in the mudslides in Vargas?

Moreover, only some 1,000 bodies were recovered, with the rest swept to sea by the mud or buried in the landslides. More than 8,000 homes and 700 apartment buildings were destroyed in Vargas, displacing up to 75,000 people. The mudslides significantly altered more than 60 kilometres (37 mi) of the coastline in Vargas.