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The death toll from the powerful twin earthquakes that struck the South American nation of Venezuela has risen to 920. This is considered the most devastating natural disaster in the country’s century-long history. Thousands of homes and multi-story buildings have been reduced to rubble by these devastating earthquakes.
Authorities fear that many people are still trapped under the collapsed buildings. However, slow progress in rescue operations has sparked strong anger and dissatisfaction among residents of the affected areas.
On Friday (June 26), Jorge Rodriguez, President of Venezuela’s National Assembly, officially confirmed that the death toll has reached 920. He is the brother of the country’s Acting President, Delcy Rodriguez. Earlier, Delcy Rodriguez had stated that approximately 3,000 people were injured in the disaster.
While visiting the most affected state of La Guaira, Delcy Rodriguez said that various international rescue teams have already begun to arrive in the disaster-stricken areas. With the help of local administration, they are searching for survivors and distributing food and clean water among the affected.
However, given the extensive scale of the devastation, experts fear that the death toll could rise further.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has issued an alarming forecast regarding the disaster. According to the agency, the death toll could ultimately exceed 10,000. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that approximately 6.8 million people could be directly and indirectly affected by the earthquake, including about 2 million residents of the capital, Caracas.
Loyce Pace, Regional Director for the Americas at the International Red Cross, stated that people are still afraid to return to their homes due to ongoing aftershocks following the earthquake.
Last Wednesday evening, two powerful earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 successively struck Venezuela. The government has declared a nationwide state of emergency to cope with the situation. Additionally, due to extensive damage, Simon Bolivar International Airport in the capital Caracas has been temporarily closed.
Source: BBC