The United States requests access to the Cuauhtémoc ship after collision in New York

US authorities are awaiting permission to inspect the Mexican sailboat after the fatal impact in New York.

Publicado 19 mayo, 2025 el 19 de mayo a las 17:25 | 3 mins reading |3,703 vistas | por Ana Rodríguez

Investigation underway into the accident of the Cuauhtémoc training ship

The United States government awaits formal authorization from Mexico to board the training ship Cuauhtémoc, involved in a serious incident on May 17 when it collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. The objective is to begin an exhaustive analysis and interview the crew, as confirmed by Michael Graham, representative of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). During a press conference, Graham emphasized that the process will be meticulous: “We will not speculate on causes until conclusive evidence is collected.”.

Operational details and logistical challenges

Brian Young, another key investigator, revealed that a tugboat assisted the sailboat during its departure from the dock, a central aspect in the investigation. “We will examine the tugboat’s protocols and the decisions made in those critical minutes,” he said. The period between undocking and the crash was just five minutes, reducing the options to mitigate the impact. In addition, it was confirmed that the Cuauhtémoc increased its speed and issued requests for help, although the response was insufficient.

The research focuses include:

The search for data recorders on board, pending review due to diplomatic restrictions.
The technical inspection of the engine and electronic systems to rule out mechanical failures.
The stabilization of the damaged masts, whose structural integrity has not yet been determined.

Advances and international collaboration

Graham clarified that 179 crew members have already returned to Mexico, while 94 remain on the ship performing maintenance work. The NTSB made a public call to collect videos or testimonies to help reconstruct the events. Although a preliminary report is expected in 30 days, the entire process could take several months due to the complexity of the case and the binational coordination required.

Key note: The authorities ruled out confirming the alleged “mechanical failure” initially mentioned by the New York police, stressing that this hypothesis is not yet verified.

Next steps and maritime security

Once the initial inspection is completed, the vessel will be transferred to a shipyard for repairs. This incident has reopened debates about navigation protocols in congested waters and the training of crews in emergencies. The NTSB reiterated its commitment to making findings transparent to prevent future accidents.

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International

1,430 dead and 3,238 injured left by earthquakes in Venezuela

Official balance reports 1,430 deaths and more than 3,000 injured after two earthquakes in Venezuela.

Publicado 4 hours ago el 27 de junio a las 20:22 | 1 min reading

Official figures after the earthquakes in Venezuela

The president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, updated the balance of the two earthquakes that shook the country. So far there are 1,430 deaths and 3,238 injuries. Search and rescue efforts continue in the most affected areas.

Rodríguez specified that 3,142 families were affected and are being cared for in shelters distributed in the seven affected states. In addition, 430 aftershocks of the earthquakes have been recorded.

According to the open online platform, the missing number 50,947. The official, brother of interim president Delcy Rodríguez, reiterated the call to citizens not to enter La Guaira and deposit their aid in authorized collection centers.

International

La Guaira: smell of decomposition and slowness in rescues after earthquakes

After 72 hours of the earthquakes, activists report unrecovered bodies and little official response.

Publicado 5 hours ago el 27 de junio a las 19:16 | 3 mins reading

La Guaira: 72 hours after the earthquakes

In Caraballeda, a residential area of La Guaira, the smell of decomposition was clearly perceived on Friday night. The first 72 hours after the earthquakes had passed, a key period for life rescues.

Activists from Provea, the oldest human rights NGO in Venezuela, confirmed to ANSA that during a tour of that area “we smelled decomposition (a sign of unrecovered bodies under rubble).” In addition, they pointed out that “there are few body recovery units.”

72 hours after the two earthquakes that devastated the region, activists observed “bodies that have not yet been transferred with dignity.” They recalled that “the State has the obligation to guarantee dignified recovery operations for each victim and their families.”

The earthquakes, magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, occurred consecutively this Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was located in Yaracuy, about 300 km west of Caracas, but La Guaira, just 30 km from the capital, suffered the greatest structural impact.

The head of Humanitarian Affairs of the UN, Tom Fletcher, estimated that more than 50,000 people were missing. Journalists and observers indicated that the majority is concentrated in La Guaira, where images on networks show numerous lifeless bodies.

Journalist León Hernández, who was in La Guaira on Friday, told ANSA: “I was there… there are really thousands. This Friday night the key 72 hours for rescues were completed.” He added that “in many collapsed buildings, only civil servants and volunteers have been in charge of continuing to rescue people.” He explained that “the damage is of enormous proportions, thousands of victims. I saw complete buildings from which only one person was taken alive.”

This Saturday, interim president Delcy Rodríguez said that seven states were affected, but that the catastrophe hit La Guaira. The government reported the sending of machinery and military personnel, and the closure of access to La Guaira since Friday night, justifying it for reasons of order and security. However, local activists and journalists question the prioritization and insufficient response in the first 72 hours.

Thousands of victims remain in makeshift shelters or on the streets for fear of aftershocks. The combination of debris, heat (up to 40°C) and unrecovered bodies creates an increasing health risk. The families demand transparency in the figures, dignified access to the bodies and a state response in line with the scale of the catastrophe.

International

La Guaira: 72 hours of uncertainty after the earthquakes

The smell of decomposition and few rescue teams mark the area most devastated by the earthquakes.

Publicado 6 hours ago el 27 de junio a las 18:18 | 2 mins reading

Rescues in La Guaira: 72 hours of uncertainty

72 hours after the two earthquakes that shook northern Venezuela, the La Guaira area faces a humanitarian crisis. Activists from Provea, the country’s oldest human rights organization, report the smell of decomposition and few body recovery units.

“We smelled decomposition—a sign of unrecovered bodies under rubble—and there are also few body recovery units,” they told ANSA after a tour of the area.

The earthquakes, magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 according to the USGS, occurred consecutively. The epicenter was located in Yaracuy, 300 km from Caracas, but La Guaira, just 30 km from the capital, suffered the greatest structural impact. The UN, through Tom Fletcher, estimated that more than 50,000 people were missing.

Journalist León Hernández, present on Friday, described the magnitude of the tragedy:

“I was there… there are really thousands. This Friday night the key 72 hours for rescues were completed. In many collapsed buildings, it has been only civil servants and in many cases volunteers in charge of continuing to rescue people.”

He added that thousands of victims were left in makeshift shelters or on the streets for fear of aftershocks. Temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius, combining debris and unrecovered bodies, creating a growing health risk.

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez reported damage in seven states, but the tragedy is concentrated in La Guaira. The government announced the sending of machinery and closing access from Friday for order and security. However, activists question the insufficient response in the first critical hours.

The families demand transparency in the figures, dignified access to the bodies and a state response in line with the catastrophe. The search efforts continue, but the slowness and scarce official presence mark the panorama in this coastal region.