A rescue operation coordinated by Lara Civil Protection allowed the successful evacuation of 45 tourists who were stranded since Saturday, April 25, in the Cascada del Vino, located in the Morán municipality of Lara state, after a strong landslide caused by the intense rains that hit the central-western region of the country.
The visitors, coming mainly from Barquisimeto, Caracas and Valencia, traveled in two vehicles: a bus with 32 seats and a van with 13 passengers. The landslide, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, completely covered the access road to the spa with sediment, rocks and trees, leaving both the vehicular and pedestrian paths at the entrance to Dinira National Park impassable.
“The tourists were in the lower part of the tourist attraction and were escorted on foot by Civil Protection officials and security agencies to the Hato Arriba sector, where they were transferred in vehicles to their places of origin,” reported Luis Mujica, regional director of Civil Protection and Disaster Administration in Lara.
The rescue took place between Sunday the 26th and the morning of this Monday, April 27th. Neighbors from the surrounding communities actively collaborated in the initial clearing and support efforts. Authorities confirmed that there were no injuries or deaths, although there was an elderly person among the tourists.
The heavy rainfall in recent days has generated several landslides in mountainous areas of Lara, a recurring phenomenon in the Barbacoa mountain range during the rainy season.
The Wine Waterfall is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the state, known for its crystal-clear waters and natural environment, but authorities recommend caution and check the conditions of the roads before visiting the area during the rainy season.
So far, traffic on the main road remains affected, while cleaning work by the competent agencies continues.
Sources: Lara Civil Protection, El Impuso and El Informador
