Earthquakes in Venezuela: death toll exceeds 4,000
This is reported by DW, citing the Speaker of the Venezuelan Parliament, Jorge Rodríguez.
What is known about the aftermath of the earthquakes
According to official figures, 4,118 people have died as a result of the disaster. A further 16,740 people have been injured, and nearly 18,000 residents have been left homeless.
At the same time, international experts believe that the chances of finding survivors under the rubble are virtually nil. The UN estimates that the number of people considered missing could be as high as 50,000. The authorities in Caracas have not yet confirmed these figures.
The region near Caracas was hardest hit
Powerful earthquakes struck on the evening of 24 June. Following the main tremors, seismologists recorded a further 942 aftershocks.
The disaster destroyed around 190 buildings, with a further 850 sustaining damage. The coastal state of La Guaira, located near the country’s capital, Caracas, suffered the most extensive damage.
The authorities’ response drew criticism
Some local residents stated that in the first few hours after the earthquakes, rescue operations were effectively carried out by the residents themselves, as help was slow to arrive. According to them, people were initially pulled from the rubble by relatives, neighbours and volunteers.
The Venezuelan government rejects these allegations. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez had previously stated that thousands of military personnel, rescue workers and representatives of government agencies were immediately deployed to deal with the aftermath of the disaster.
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