Star Metro - Chavez-era housing complex in ruins after Venezuela quakes

Built as part of efforts to modernize Venezuela, the buildings now symbolize the country's dire situation after twin quakes on Wednesday left nearly 1,500 people confirmed dead and tens of thousands missing.

"Most of the buildings at the back of the complex have completely collapsed," Jenny Contreras, 28, said.

Contreras, her husband and their four-year-old son have slept on a mattress in the street since the quakes tore into 192 buildings in the Urbanismo Hugo Chavez complex in the Catia La Mar neighborhood of La Guaira.

The 3,400 apartments have been evacuated and Contreras said she was not even able to return to recover belongings.

Large cracks rippled through the buildings, revealing interior construction materials, AFP reporters said. Some were teetering on the verge of collapse and others had already fallen.

Even for buildings that are still standing, the future is bleak.

"The entire development will be condemned. The whole development is going to disappear in the future because all of it is in very bad condition," Contreras said.

Shopkeeper Dayana Lean, 51, said that "zones one and three" of the complex were the hardest hit.

"Over that way, all of that is already gone. They sank. And there are many dead," she said.

Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, said on Sunday that temporary camps were being set up for people who had lost their homes.

"At the same time, work begins on planning projects that will allow new homes to be built in a very short time," said Rodriguez, who is facing a massive test as leader after taking over from Nicolas Maduro, ousted in a US military operation in January.

Residents had laid out mattresses, washing machines, wooden furniture, and other salvaged household items.

Lean said she did not want to be sent to a shelter.

"If we're going to be refugees, we'll stay here. We'll look after each other," she said.

S.Morin--SMC