Rescue teams in Carabobo state recovered the bodies of two adults and a three-year-old girl from the Lago de Valencia following the capsizing of an artisanal boat on October 25, according to local emergency reports.
The multi-day search operation concluded on Tuesday afternoon with the recovery of the child’s body. Authorities confirmed that the victims died by immersion after the vessel sank near the municipality of Carlos Arvelo.
Three-Day Search Operation in Carabobo
The emergency response began on Sunday, October 25, after a survivor swam to shore and alerted authorities about the sinking. According to reports from the Cuerpo de Bomberos de Carlos Arvelo, a group consisting of three adults and a child had boarded an artisanal boat to retrieve fishing nets previously placed in the reservoir.
During the first day of searching, rescue crews recovered the body of 57-year-old Richard Pérez near the shore. Agents from the Cuerpo de Investigaciones Científicas, Penales y Criminalísticas (CICPC) transported his remains to the morgue at the Hospital Doctor González Plaza in Naguanagua.
Operations continued on Monday using aquatic search patterns, leading recovery teams to locate the body of 27-year-old Emiliano Puche, the father of the child. The multi-agency operation concluded on Tuesday with the recovery of three-year-old Emily Puche, whose body was found approximately three kilometers from the site of the shipwreck, as detailed by journalist Heberlizeth González.
Did You Know? The emergency protocols were coordinated by the Cuerpo de Bomberos de Carlos Arvelo alongside the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana (GNB) and the Instituto Nacional de los Espacios Acuáticos (INEA), utilizing specialized aquatic search patterns over nearly 48 hours.
Safety Risks on Artisanal Watercraft
La participación de funcionarios policiales y militares destaca en las labores de rescate de las víctimas en el Lago de Valencia.
Rescue teams recover bodies from Lago de Valencia
When did the boat sink in the Lago de Valencia?
The artisanal boat sank on Sunday, October 25, after the occupants went out onto the water to retrieve fishing nets.
Which agencies participated in the rescue operations?
The search efforts involved the Cuerpo de Bomberos de Carlos Arvelo, the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana (GNB), and the Instituto Nacional de los Espacios Acuáticos (INEA).
Where were the victims’ remains taken after recovery?
The bodies were handled by CICPC agents and transferred to the morgue at the Hospital Doctor González Plaza in Naguanagua, as well as forensic facilities in Valencia.
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