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What happened, where and when?
On 1 July 2024, Hurricane Beryl reached category 5, severely affecting the northeastern states of Venezuela, especially Sucre. This hurricane unleashed strong winds and torrential rains, causing the interruption of air and maritime services in the country. Flights to Porlamar, Cumana, Carúpano and Tucupita were restricted, and minor sailings were suspended. However, for the communities of the Montes municipality in Sucre, the impact was devastating.
The heavy rains flooded rivers such as the Manzanares, Caripey, and Colorado. Particularly, the overflowing of the Manzanares River caused severe damage to at least 29,000 people, affecting water and electricity distribution, roads, health centers, businesses, and homes in different sectors of Cumanacoa, Montes municipality, Sucre state. This caused floods and landslides that forced hundreds of families to abandon their homes. The destruction of crops, livestock, and local businesses severely affected the livelihoods of the population.
The Montes municipality is particularly prone to flooding due to its topography and proximity to rivers. Communities in the zone have less access to robust infrastructure and emergency services. Weak infrastructure amplified the impact of flooding replicating the catastrophic effects of similar events in the region's history.
Heavy rainfall registered from 01 July to 02 July due to the passing of Hurricane Beryl not only caused immediate destruction but also exacerbated the already vulnerable population, negatively impacting their well-being, safety, and livelihoods. This highlights the critical need for a comprehensive and sustained response to support the recovery and reconstruction of affected communities.
Scope and Scale
The overflowing of the Manzanares river on 2 July, caused flooding in several sectors due to the increase in its flow. Approximately 80% of Cumanacoa was affected, impacting 29,000 people in 17 communities in the Montes municipality that are near the river. The most severely damaged sectors are Las Lomas, Las Trincheras, Altos de Trincheras, Peña, Cutábano, Agua Blanca, and La Fragua. Another population affected, although to a lesser extent, is located along the slopes of the Manzanares River, with approximately 780 homes outside the focus of attention of state agencies.
As of 8 July, six people were officially reported dead, three missing, and an undetermined number of injured. A total of 7,960 homes suffered damage ranging from minor to severe and 360 homes were total losses. All of them have suffered the loss of property and belongings. In addition, close to 150 commercial establishments were affected, which will impact the local economy and the livelihoods of families. It is being registered that families have been displaced to the capital of Sucre state, Cumaná. On the other hand, six schools were damaged by the floods, out of which three suffered major damage and two others, located in the communities of Las Trincheras and La Fragua, were completely destroyed.
People with disabilities, the elderly and children are among the most vulnerable groups and face greater obstacles in evacuating and accessing emergency services. Their susceptibility to disease and difficulties in moving around made them particularly susceptible to the effects of the disaster. This situation has led to internal displacement and the emergence of several people in temporary tents, who now find themselves in a precarious situation with less access to resources and community support.
The extension of the affected area is considerable. There are few means and channels for communication, making the flow of information between communities difficult. There are no warning systems in the entire municipality, just within some specific sectors such as in Los Cedros and Montalbán, which prevents communities located along the riverbanks from being warned in advance. The main need in the municipality is access to safe water. Even though national authorities have provided water through tanker trucks, needs identified exacerbate the supply. Furthermore, the Cumanacoa Hospital continues to provide services but faces severe shortages of essential medical supplies, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.
The intensity of the recent rainfall has kept national agencies and the Venezuelan Red Cross (VRC) on alert since it is expected that the passage of tropical waves will cause greater damage in different states of the country.