Tales of survival emerge as Venezuela landslide toll hits 34

By MATÍAS DELACROIX and JUAN PABLO ARRÁEZ
Associated Press

LAS TEJERIAS, Venezuela (AP) — Rescue workers using drones and trained dogs are searching for survivors following a massive landslide in central Venezuela, as the death toll rose to 34 and residents described harrowing tales of escape from the water and mud. Jose Medina recalls how the water streaming into his home in the town of Las Tejerías had reached waist level. He and his family were trapped, he realized. So the 63-year-old turned his refrigerator sideways, opened its door and used it as a boat for his granddaughter. Meanwhile he held on to the fridge with his wife. He described their survival as a “miracle.”