SUMMARY

Hopes faded that more people will be found alive in Venezuela, several days after earthquakes slammed the country on June 24-25. The government's official death toll has risen past 3,500 people (updated since this segment added), though that is believed to be a vast undercount. By one estimate, 50,000 people remain missing, and 60,000 buildings may have collapsed across the northern coast. Stephanie Sy reports.

View the transcript of the story.

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about? You can also make a Google doc copy of these general discussion questions.

News alternative: Check our recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching and see the Google doc above for discussion questions.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Who is being blamed for the earthquake in this story?
2. Where did this earthquake take place?
3. Why are families afraid of going back into their home?
4. How has the government responded to this earthquake?
5. What are families saying about the level to which the government has provided support post-earthquake?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

1. Why are the Venezuelan people blaming the government? Are they justified? Explain.
2. Has the government provided adequate support to the Venezuelan community, in your opinion?

Media literacy:

Who else would you have liked to have heard from in this story? Why?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

In the News Hour segment, Venezuela's earthquake response hindered by economic and political crises, you will learn more other challenges that have made recovery efforts more difficult.

As students, you will be tasked with learning more about the different types of crises that Venezuela has been going through before this event. Pick one of the three following options, and watch the News Hour segment above.

• economic crisis
• social crisis
• political crisis

After you are done watching the segment and conducting any additional research, discuss action steps with a partner that should be taken by the government, the international community or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to help the recovery efforts. Create a list of proposed solutions and discuss as a class.

Written by PBS News Hour Classrooms Intern Justin Vasquez and PBS News Hours Victoria Pasquantonio

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