21 People Killed washed away by floods and Landslides

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 09:37 AMThousands of people fled their homes Venezuela, Tuesday, after landslides and overflowing water from several rivers have killed at least 21 people and threatening to cause damage again.
Bad weather makes the closing of the two largest oil refineries in the OPEC member states on Monday (29/11). A source at state oil company PDVSA said they are slowly begin operating again Tuesday.
Millions of poor people in Venezuela live in a shack that was built without planning in the slums on the hillsides in Caracas and along the Caribbean coast. Heavy rains remind the public about the landslide which caused major damage in 1999 that killed at least 10,000 people.
Small landslide toppled dozens of homes, and cars pile up and block the road this weekend. Most of the 21 people are killed by landslides, while others washed away river.
The government has declared a state of emergency in three states and Caracas, as well as cancel a lesson at school and opened hundreds of shelter from the storm.
"The rain will continue for at least three days ahead," said Vice President Elias Jaua told state television station.
Formed long lines in poor areas of Caracas, when the official family record which will be placed in temporary shelters, including hotels, government offices and even the presidential palace.
Vice President Elias Jaua said 5600 people were forced to flee their homes due to heavy rain.
Most areas of the oil-producing states, Falcon, was flooded, resulting in a little oil spill near and Amuay Cardon refinery, which has a combined capacity of 955,000 barrels per day.
The main unit in Amuay, which can produce 645,000 barrels per day began operating again on Tuesday, a source at the oil refinery complex. Cardon will require 10 days to operate normally again after a power outage in the service industry, said Monday.
The source, who refused to be named because he was not authorized to speak, said the shipment of two oil refineries were not affected.Andean Development Corporation, a regional development bank, said the bank was passed 100 million U.S. dollars aid to Venezuela to help the country cope with the disaster.
SOURCE : ANTARA