Venezuela earthquake death toll surpasses 1,450; thousands missing
The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday has risen to at least 1,450, with more than 3,150 injured and 12,721 displaced, according to officials. The coastal state of La Guaira, about 40 km north of Caracas, suffered the most damage, with 774 buildings collapsed.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez stated on Sunday that rescue operations continue, with survivors still being pulled from the rubble. 'We have recovered people alive, and therefore, operations are not being suspended,' she said, adding that a presidential commission will assess building habitability.
Schools will remain closed for another week, and electricity has been restored to 75% of La Guaira. The government thanked civilian volunteers but restricted road access to La Guaira to ensure emergency vehicles can move efficiently.
Jorge Rodriguez, head of the National Assembly, confirmed the updated toll of 1,450 dead. He warned that the next hours are critical for rescuing lives and establishing camps for those who lost homes or cannot return to their residences.
Foreign rescue teams, totaling about 2,600 personnel, have arrived but have reported shortages of heavy equipment and limited official presence. Despite these challenges, at least 33 people had been rescued by Saturday evening, including children. On Sunday, a father and son were pulled alive from a collapsed building.
A website run by the opposition listed approximately 50,000 people as unaccounted for, down from 55,000 the previous day. Rescue teams are racing against the 72-hour window for survival, as noted by a Swiss rescue team leader whose team of 80 and eight dogs found multiple people alive but could not extricate them in time.
The United States State Department praised US rescue crews for saving an infant, posting video of the rescue. Aid continues to pour into Venezuela as the country grapples with the disaster amid an ongoing political and economic crisis.
