The death toll resulting from the destructive earthquakes in Venezuela has now risen to 1,430 as rescuers race against time to locate survivors before the crucial 72-hour window elapses.
According to top lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez, an additional 3,238 individuals have been injured, and 3,142 have been rendered homeless by the disaster. Rodriguez, who revealed the latest statistics on state television, characterized the event as the most catastrophic in the country’s recent history.
The twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, occurring less than a minute apart. The second tremor, the strongest in over a century, has led to more than 50,000 people being reported missing, with estimations from the US Geological Survey suggesting a potential death toll of up to 10,000.
Following the powerful “doublet” quakes that hit consecutively within 39 seconds, over 250 buildings collapsed, trapping numerous individuals under debris. Emergency teams are tirelessly searching for signs of life, with heart-wrenching accounts emerging of families hoping for the survival of their loved ones.
Amid the tragedy, miraculous stories of survival have surfaced, including the rescue of an 18-day-old baby from the rubble in La Guaira and the birth of another baby beneath a collapsed structure.
The epicenter of the initial quake was in Yaracuy state, with seismic waves reaching the coastal city of La Guaira, causing extensive destruction. The US and Spanish military have mobilized to assist in the rescue operations, with the US committing $150 million in aid and deploying resources to support the response.
In a statement on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump expressed readiness to aid Venezuela, emphasizing the strong bond between the two nations. Additionally, the US Treasury Department temporarily lifted sanctions to facilitate financial transactions related to earthquake relief efforts by Venezuela’s government.
King Charles and Queen Camilla conveyed a message of solidarity and condolences to the people of Venezuela, expressing deep sorrow for the tragic loss of life and suffering caused by the earthquakes.
