Two Weeks After Major Earthquake, Venezuelan Airport Near Capital Aims to Resume Commercial Flights

CARACAS (CNA) - Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodriguez announced today that an alternative runway will be used to expedite the reopening of the international airport damaged by two major earthquakes last month.

According to Agence France-Presse, Simon Bolivar International Airport is located in La Guaira, north of the capital Caracas, which was the epicenter of the earthquake on June 24.

The earthquake, one of the most severe in Latin American history, caused nearly 3,700 deaths nationwide, with thousands missing and displaced, severely impacting La Guaira. The airport is currently open for humanitarian aid flights.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez stated on her Telegram account, "I have ordered the immediate activation of a contingency plan, utilizing the parallel alternative runway to resume commercial flights as soon as possible."

U.S. Air Force and military experts are assisting in the airport's reopening and the repair of the La Guaira seaport, which was damaged in the earthquake, to facilitate the transport of supplies and equipment.

U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to Venezuela, John Barrett, told reporters in a conference call that U.S. officials have been discussing the resumption of flights with U.S. commercial airlines, adding that "some engineering work remains to be completed on the infrastructure supporting commercial flight operations," but did not provide a specific completion date.

U.S. Southern Command Commander General Francis Donovan stated that U.S. military personnel are still assisting with air traffic control and ground cargo operations at the airport. Approximately 2,000 U.S. military personnel are currently deployed in Venezuela to aid in disaster relief, with their aircraft and helicopters frequently landing and taking off from the airport.

The Venezuelan government updated the earthquake casualty figures today, with the death toll now at 3,685 and nearly 17,000 injured.

The United Nations (UN) estimates the losses from the two earthquakes to be as high as $6.7 billion (approximately NT$214.8 billion), equivalent to 6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the oil-producing nation of Venezuela. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) stated that approximately $14.85 million is needed to expand protection, temporary shelter, and relief supplies for 30,000 affected individuals over the next six months. (Intern Editor: Zhuo You-an / Reviewer: Yang Zhao-yan) 1150708

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