Venezuela Earthquakes Hit a Health System Already in Crisis
In quake-affected areas, firefighters are using cellphone lights due to a flashlight shortage, and an overwhelmed hospital is operating without running water, according to a doctor.
The earthquakes that struck Venezuela have compounded the woes of a healthcare system already in deep crisis. A doctor in the disaster zone reported that firefighters are resorting to using their cellphone lights because of a shortage of flashlights. The same doctor said that a local hospital, overwhelmed with casualties, is functioning without running water. These details highlight the severe lack of basic resources in the country, even before the natural disaster. The tremors have further strained the ability to provide adequate medical care, as rescue and relief efforts are hampered by the shortages.
