CARACAS, Venezuela — All missionaries stationed in northern Venezuela where torrential rains caused a large loss of life during the second week of December are safe, according to local Church leaders.

One Church member is among the estimated 10,000 lost in the devastating storm and subsequent mud slides, and another 30 members are missing, as of Dec. 22. However, local leaders are optimistic that they will be located among the thousands of refugees who were evacuated by helicopters to various other cities in Venezuela in the aftermath of one of the century's worst storms. The homes of some 50 families of Church members were destroyed or severely damaged, but nearly all of these families have been placed with relatives or other members.

Alberto Martineau, Caracas Venezuela service center manager for the Church, said that one meetinghouse was subjected to mud flows, but that it had been cleaned. Three other meetinghouses were used as shelters by members and others during the flooding.

In response to the disaster, Church officials in Salt Lake City have food, clothing and medical supplies to be shipped to Venezuela as soon as arrangements can be made.

Locally, the welfare committees are functioning; donated food and clothing have been given to many refugees, said Brother Martineau. He related that many of the members, including Pres. Marcelo Bonilla of the La Guaira Branch, located on the coast north of Caracas, felt an uneasiness in the early morning hours of Dec. 15 as the rains continued. Strange noises and excessive water led them to evacuate their homes and alert other members to do the same before the mudslides began, said Brother Martineau. "We heard this same account from many different sources."

Pres. James G. Andrus of the Venezuela Caracas Mission said that missionaries in La Guaira were stranded for three days and three nights, "but they had food and water stored, as they had been instructed, and rode out the storm with no serious problems. Neither the missionaries nor their apartments were affected."

After the storm abated, the missionaries walked to the airport and helped distribute food. Other missionaries in the area assisted with refugees, sorted donated clothing, and helped clean mud from the streets, said Pres. Andrus.