Hundreds of aftershocks are complicating rescue efforts in northern Venezuela’s most affected communities, while the death toll in the country resulting from the devastating twin earthquakes this week rose to 1,430 with more than 3,200 injured.
The last estimates were put out by Venezuela’s National Assembly president Jorge Rodriguez who reported that emergency workers are still working to locate people still buried alive under buildings. Since the disaster, over four hundred aftershocks have been recorded, and since the disaster rescue efforts have had to halt temporarily due to fear of additional building collapses.
The catastrophe started Wednesday with the occurrence of two very strong earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 in quick succession, wreaking devastation in the municipalities of La Guaira, Caracas and its environs. Tens of thousands of people lost their homes as entire residential blocks were either damaged or destroyed, and hospitals, schools and public infrastructure were damaged or destroyed.
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International search operations have increased in intensity, as the timeframe for rescue operations of 72 hours approaches its end. Involved in the search of the rubble are more than 1,600 foreign rescue personnel supported by more than 100 search dogs, as well as over 150 emergency workers in Venezuela.
Over 14,000 security and emergency personnel have been mobilised in La Guaira and humanitarian assistance and all necessary food and medical supplies have been brought in by other governments and international aide agencies, acting President Delcy Rodriguez said.
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U.S. has committed $150 million to emergency funding and sent qualified teams to search and rescue in cities – UN and other nations have mobilised more personnel and relief materials. The restoration of power, telecom and transport lines is still high on the priority list as many thousands of families are homeless and have lost basic infrastructure.
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Time has been running out to find survivors, rescue officials have warned, however, search operations will continue until there is a chance to find people alive trapped below the debris. The twin earthquakes have already proven to be one of the most devastating events in Venezuela’s recent natural history, and will likely continue to have a harmful humanitarian and economic repercussion on the nation.
