Floods Deprive Venezuelan Victims of Joyful Christmas

PUNTA DE MULATOS, Venezuela — More rain fell on Venezuela’s sodden coastline Friday, terrifying mudslide survivors even as they tried to summon up a bit of Christmas joy.

Survivors searching for food and water also pleaded for toys--traditionally delivered both by the baby Jesus and Santa Claus in this Roman Catholic country. Most came up empty.

“I told my children the baby Jesus isn’t coming this year,” Mireya Casana said, breaking into sobs.

Casana, 33, and her children, ages 2, 4 and 7, lost their home in the beach town of Punta de Mulatos when mountainsides along Venezuela’s coast crumbled from heavy rain Dec. 16, burying entire neighborhoods and thousands of people.

There was little to celebrate Friday for most residents, for whom mere survival has become a grueling task. There were long lines for food, water and government buses running to the capital, Caracas.

“There’s no Christmas here,” said Maryori Romero, 30, waiting with her husband and three children. “All my children are sick. This one has the flu, the other has a fever.”

Thousands of bodies are believed to be buried under the muck, and doctors say the dust is causing respiratory diseases.

The full magnitude of the tragedy may never be known, but official estimates of the death toll range from 5,000 to 30,000.

The cost of the tragedy could run $10 billion or more, officials say. Even with international aid, that sum is staggering: The central bank said Friday that the economy shrank by 7.2% in 1999.

Rain began to fall again early Friday, swelling streams and frightening residents. Meteorologists said half an inch of rain fell on Vargas state overnight.

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AID FROM L.A.

Southland residents with roots in Venezuela are helping funnel aid to flood victims there. B1