Latest news Storm "Beryl": Venezuela's Vice President hit by tree

According to the government, Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was hit by a falling tree during the strong hurricane "Beryl".

"She was standing in a papaya grove when a strong gust felled several trees and one fell on her," said the president of the South American country, Nicolás Maduro, in a televised speech to supporters. "It hit her hard, but she is conscious. She is strong. She has just written to me and sends her greetings."

Lots of damage after hurricane - two dead in Venezuela

Rodríguez had traveled to the state of Sucre to oversee the clean-up of the damage caused by tropical storm "Beryl". The hurricane had moved through the Caribbean with wind speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour. Two people lost their lives in Venezuela. The Manzanares River burst its banks and over 600 houses were damaged. The government deployed 3600 police officers and disaster relief workers to the region in the north of the country and transported 2000 tons of relief supplies to the disaster area.

Vice President Rodríguez is one of the most influential politicians in the authoritarian country. The former foreign minister is in charge of the secret service Sebin, which is accused of numerous human rights violations. Her brother Jorge Rodríguez is President of the National Assembly.

SDA