- Jorge Rodríguez stated, “We are in critical hours, in crucial hours to continue rescuing lives and to build camps where those people who have lost their homes, or who cannot return, for whatever reason, to their residences can stay.”
- More search and rescue teams are arriving in Venezuela five days after the powerful struck within a minute of each other on Wednesday evening, flattening buildings in the north of the country.
- The death toll from the earthquakes has risen to at least 1,450 people, with 3,150 injured and 12,721 others displaced, Jorge Rodríguez said yesterday in a televised address.
- At least 68,900 people have been reported unaccounted for by their families.
- Time is running out to rescue survivors trapped under the rubble, according to the president of Venezuela’s National Assembly.
- Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, says power has been restored to La Guaira, a port city near the country’s main international airport badly affected by the earthquakes.
- There is a severe shortage of heavy machinery needed to rescue survivors and state manpower has been lacking, meaning the government is reliant on international aid for assistance.
- Experts say the first 72 hours after natural disasters define the narrow window for rescuing the living.
Venezuela is in a race against time as rescue efforts intensify following devastating earthquakes that have left at least 1,450 dead and 68,900 unaccounted for. Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly, emphasized the urgency, stating, “We are in critical hours, in crucial hours to continue rescuing lives”.13
The earthquakes struck within a minute of each other, causing widespread destruction in northern Venezuela. As of now, 3,150 people are injured and 12,721 displaced, with many families still searching for their loved ones. Rodríguez highlighted the need for temporary camps for those who have lost their homes, saying, “to build camps where those people who have lost their homes can stay”.
Despite the arrival of more search and rescue teams, the government faces challenges, including a severe shortage of heavy machinery and insufficient state manpower. This has led to a reliance on international aid for effective rescue operations. Experts stress that the first 72 hours post-disaster are critical for saving lives, making the current situation even more urgent.278
As rescue teams mobilize, the nation remains hopeful for more survivors amidst the rubble, while the government works to restore essential services, including power in affected areas like La Guaira.
“Venezuela is in urgent need of rescue efforts following recent earthquakes, with Jorge Rodríguez stating, 'We are in critical hours.' The death toll has risen to at least 1,450, with over 68,900 people reported unaccounted for.”
The Guardian
