Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez announced that the death toll from two powerful earthquakes in Venezuela has climbed to 1,450. Following the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes, the country has experienced 430 light to moderate aftershocks, as per the latest government update on the national emergency.
Rodriguez, in a state television address, revealed that 3,238 individuals have been injured, and 3,142 families have been impacted by the disaster. He conveyed heartfelt condolences on behalf of Venezuelan authorities to the numerous victims of the natural calamity.
Amid ongoing search and rescue operations, tens of thousands of individuals are tirelessly engaged in the relief efforts. Additionally, the Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research (Funvisis) reported a magnitude-4.1 earthquake affecting the central region of the country, further unsettling the populace already reeling from the recent devastating quakes.
The latest tremor, with its epicenter approximately 35 km west of La Guaira, a critical port city along the central coast, has intensified concerns in an area already declared a disaster zone due to severe damage from the earlier earthquakes. The quake, occurring at a shallow depth of 5 km, has heightened the risk of structural damage due to amplified ground shaking.
Residents in Caracas and nearby regions felt the tremor, prompting many to evacuate buildings fearing additional collapses. This earthquake follows closely after the region experienced two significant seismic events earlier in the week, resulting in widespread destruction, including building collapses, landslides, and casualties. Authorities are facing challenges in coordinating relief efforts as rescue teams strive to access affected communities in coastal and mountainous areas.
