Venezuela's stalled earthquake recovery

Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude struck northern Venezuela on 24th of June this year at around 6:00 PM local time. These were huge earthquakes, which resulted in widespread building collapse in Caracas and the seaside city of La Guaira. And the areas around official estimates put the death toll over 6,500, but it is believed that the figure is much higher. In the days that followed, BBC Mundo journalists Valentina Oropeza and Norberto Paredes covered the efforts of ordinary Venezuelans, largely unaided by the authorities, to rescue family, friends, neighbours and strangers alike. And since then, they have reported on how communities have supported each other to try to rebuild day-to-day life.

 Situated at 5,290m above sea level in the barren, Moon-like landscape of northern India's Ladakh region, Hanle rates "one" (the darkest) on the Bortle dark sky scale, with 270 clear nights a year. Over the last few years, travellers have been drawn to Hanle not just for the jet-black skies but also for the chance to experience astronomy, guided by young local women who are now making the cosmos their livelihood. Amruta Durve of BBC Marathi came into The Fifth Floor studio to tell us more.

This episode of The Documentary comes to you from The Fifth Floor, the show at the heart of global storytelling, with BBC journalists from all around the world.

Presented by Faranak Amidi.

Produced by Laura Thomas, Caroline Ferguson and Hannah Dean.

(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)