Nearly 3,000 Dead in Venezuela Earthquake
Rescue teams are conducting search operations with the assistance of rescue dogs. Photo: Collected
The death toll from the powerful twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has climbed to nearly 3,000, as international rescue teams begin winding down search operations.
According to the latest official figures, 2,954 people have been killed and more than 16,500 injured. Thousands remain missing, raising fears that the death toll could continue to rise.
On June 24, two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck within seconds of each other, devastating the coastal La Guaira region north of the capital, Caracas. Authorities have since recorded 942 aftershocks.
With the critical 72-hour rescue window long passed, international search-and-rescue teams have started concluding their operations. Although a few survivors were pulled from the rubble earlier this week, rescuers say the chances of finding more people alive are now extremely low.
The United Nations estimates that as many as 50,000 people remain unaccounted for. Meanwhile, official data shows that more than 16,000 people have been left homeless and are staying in emergency shelters and temporary camps.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez honored international rescue teams and their search dogs, saying Venezuela is enduring profound grief as many families continue to hope their missing loved ones will be found alive.
The government’s response to the disaster has also come under growing criticism. Residents say emergency assistance was delayed during the crucial hours after the earthquakes, forcing many families to search for trapped relatives on their own amid shortages of food, medical supplies, and heavy equipment.
Rodríguez rejected the criticism, insisting the government quickly deployed thousands of troops and emergency personnel. Authorities are now using heavy machinery to demolish unsafe buildings and continue recovering bodies from the rubble.
Source: DW (Adapted)
