00:00The first controlled demolition took place in La Guayra as part of the ongoing efforts to clear debris and recover
00:06bodies.
00:06Belen de los Santos spoke with relatives of those affected by the demolished tower and brings us the story.
00:15This is what Tower C of the Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi complex in Catia la Mar looked like after the
00:21double earthquake.
00:23Today the scene is very different. It was the first building in La Guayra to undergo a controlled demolition.
00:29The decision was made after workers and family members warned that the structure posed an imminent risk and was hindering
00:36rescue efforts.
00:39We could see that monstrous building next to us with bricks practically falling out.
00:44Every day we watched as the structure began to collapse.
00:50If you came by before it was demolished, you would have noticed that the building was leaning extremely to one
00:56side and backward.
00:57We documented the building photographically every day and noticed that it was giving way more and more.
01:07Due to the earthquakes, the first floors of the tower collapsed.
01:11The rest remained standing, but was unstable.
01:14The risk disposed prevented heavy equipment from accessing the collapsed floors where Henley's family members still remain.
01:21That is why she, along with other families, insisted on the need for demolition.
01:29Trying to look at it from the outside, putting aside for a moment the fact that it is my family
01:34who is there.
01:34I knew from the very beginning that it was extremely dangerous for any official to attempt to enter.
01:44There were meetings between the family's community and the technical team,
01:48outlining the entire risk situation we faced and our own situation.
01:52As a community, we submitted a request to the national government asking it to take the necessary steps to mitigate
01:59the risk we faced.
02:02Once the technical alert was received, the process of dialogue with the authorities began.
02:09They agreed to meet with the other families and told them that the building had to be demolished first.
02:14They explained the demolition process to us.
02:19It's the day after.
02:21Henley plans with the rescue workers how to proceed towards the buried floors
02:24where she hopes to find her sister, her brother-in-law, and her nephews.
02:30Calmly and patiently, she speaks with us,
02:32explaining the importance of combating misinformation about the demolitions.
02:37Check reliable sources.
02:38Don't just speak for the sake of speaking.
02:40Because in this particular case, it was absolutely necessary to demolish the building so we could reach them.
02:45Because people are saying, worried, no, they're going to tear it down.
02:48They're going to bury them even deeper.
02:50No, my dear, the idea is to get to where they are.
02:53That's the idea.
02:53After the demolition, the work is even more intense.
02:57This isn't about closing the site, but rather a necessary step to continue the search.
03:03We won't rest until we've recovered the last body in this area.
03:08And we are brothers and sisters.
03:10No one is left behind here.
03:11Here, we all hold hands.
03:15We have to get back on our feet, and anything is possible.
03:17If we've survived COVID and all the other things we've been through,
03:20we'll survive this too, and we'll come out on top.
03:27Going to bed every night and telling yourself,
03:29tomorrow, what am I going to do?
03:31Maybe I'll finally be able to make it happen.
03:33Let's hope that this time, yes, I believe that this time, with their help,
03:37I believe that this time we'll be able to say,
03:39hey, we made it all the way down there.
03:41Sí, llegamos hasta allá abajo.
03:45In camera, Marcos Da Silva,
03:46John Iker Salazar,
03:47Belén de los Santos,
03:48for Tell Us Your English from La Guaira, Venezuela.
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