Two people died when their homes collapsed on them after days of heavy rain in Caracas, bringing death toll in the Venezuelan capital to 10 and the whole country to 23, Venezuela's El Universal newspaper reported on Tuesday.


An aerial view shows floodwaters in Barlovento, about 48 km (30 miles) east of Caracas November 29, 2010.  Two people died when their homes collapsed on them after days of heavy rain in Caracas, bringing death toll in the Venezuelan capital to 10 and the whole country to 23, Venezuela's El Universal newspaper reported on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Venezuela on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Caracas and the states of Vargas and Miranda, as a result of heavy rains in the country started last Monday.


Venezuelan Vice President Elias Jaua announced the measure on state-run Venezolana de Television. He explained that the decision will allow the executive authorities to act quickly to attend to the thousands of families who were left homeless due to the rains.


More than 56,000 people had suffered r property damage due to rainstorms, said Jaua, who ordered schools in 11 states to close in a televised statement.


Jaua said that all educational institutions ranging from nurseries to universities, private and public, would be closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the cities of Zulia, Falcon, Trujillo, Carabobo, Yaracuy, Caracas, Miranda, Vargas, Nueva Esparta, Sucre and Anzoategui.


Jaua heads a presidential emergency commission set up Monday. School suspension was among its first recommendations.


Emergency shelters would be provided at military bases Generalisimo Francisco de Miranda "La Carlota" and Fort Tiuana for those who lost their homes and to store emergency supplies.


VietNamNet/Xinhuanet