Arabic version: ارتفاع عدد ضحايا زلزال فنزويلا إلى أكثر من 1400 مع تكثيف جهود الإنقاذ
According to The Guardian,
The death toll in the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela earlier this week has risen to 1,430, according to Jorge Rodríguez, the president of the National Assembly. The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck on Wednesday evening, leading to significant devastation, with 3,200 people injured and 3,100 left homeless. Nearly 68,900 individuals are reported unaccounted for by their families.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, particularly in La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit regions. Civilians have been actively participating in the search for survivors, using shovels and their bare hands to sift through the rubble of collapsed buildings. The United Nations has estimated the damage caused by the earthquakes at $6.7 billion, equivalent to 6% of Venezuela’s GDP.
To assist with recovery efforts, more than 14,000 members of the military and police are patrolling affected areas, where access has been restricted. International aid teams from countries including Mexico, the US, Brazil, El Salvador, and France have arrived to support the search and rescue operations. However, logistical challenges persist, as a British crisis-response team has been stranded in Madrid due to flight cancellations linked to damage at Simón Bolívar International Airport.
Jeremy Lewin, a US state department official, stated that the US military is coordinating flights to bring in rescue personnel, medical supplies, and mobile hospitals. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, as many individuals remain trapped under rubble. The International Red Cross has reported that survivors are fearful of returning to their homes, further complicating recovery efforts. Foreign nationals have been confirmed among the dead, reportedly including individuals from Portugal, China, Brazil, Spain, and Venezuela.
