Death Toll from Two Powerful Earthquakes in Venezuela Rises to 1,430
The Guardian has reported that the death toll from two powerful earthquakes in northern Venezuela has risen to 1,430, with at least 3,200 others injured. According to Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, around 3,100 people have also been left homeless following the natural disaster.
These two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, struck less than a minute apart just after midnight on Thursday (Afghanistan time). Reports indicate that the strong tremors caused extensive damage across various regions, especially in the northern areas of the country.
The Guardian added that search and rescue operations are ongoing, with families reporting at least 68,900 people missing. In La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas, some residents have been using shovels and their bare hands to search for survivors among the rubble of collapsed buildings.
The United Nations has provided an initial estimate of the financial damage caused by the earthquakes at approximately $6.7 billion, equivalent to nearly six percent of Venezuela’s gross domestic product. The UN Development Programme emphasized that this figure only accounts for damage to assets such as residential homes, and the broader economic consequences of the disaster have yet to be fully assessed.
