Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 1,450, 50,000 missing
The death toll from the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last Wednesday has risen to 1,450, with 50,000 people still missing according to the UN, as rescue efforts continue.
Venezuelan authorities have reported that the death toll from the two strong earthquakes that occurred on Wednesday evening has continued to climb, reaching 1,450. Since Saturday, the number of fatalities has increased by 20. According to the UN, more than 50,000 people remain unaccounted for.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced that 33 people have been rescued in the past 24 hours, including an 11-year-old boy pulled from the rubble in Caraballeda, north of Caracas. Experts note that the first 72 hours after a disaster, which have now passed, are the critical window for finding survivors; after that, search operations shift to recovering remains.
The earthquakes have destroyed or damaged hundreds of buildings. The parliamentary speaker stated on Sunday that a total of 774 structures have been affected, of which 189 have completely collapsed. The hardest-hit states are Trujillo, Carabobo, Miranda, and La Guaira.
A state of emergency has been declared in the country. On Wednesday evening, two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck near the coastal city of Morón, followed by approximately 30 aftershocks.
