Delcy Rodríguez, the acting president of Venezuela, raised the official toll of victims from the earthquakes on June 24 to 589 dead and 2,980 injured, as confirmed by the agency EFE in its live coverage of the disaster.
The figures represent a dramatic increase compared to the previous day's reports, which counted 164 deceased and 971 injured. In just 24 hours, the death toll more than tripled, reflecting the devastating impact of the two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 that struck the country just 39 seconds apart.
Rodríguez personally traveled to Macuto, in the state of La Guaira, to assist with the search efforts among the rubble.
First, life. We are here in Macuto, in the State of La Guaira, standing with our people, in the search and rescue of individuals who were trapped under structures and buildings that collapsed as a result of the earthquakes, Rodríguez declared from the site.
That coastal area, located about 30 kilometers from Caracas, is the hardest hit by the disaster.
Dozens of buildings collapsed in Catia la Mar and the Los Corales area. The government declared it a "natural disaster zone."
Amid the chaos, reports also emerged of looting in damaged stores in La Guaira and Catia la Mar.
The epicenter of the earthquakes was located in the state of Yaracuy, municipality of Yumare, at a depth of between 10 and 13 kilometers.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) rated the event as the most powerful recorded in Venezuela since 1900 and issued its highest-level Red Alert. Since then, more than 200 aftershocks have been recorded.
At least 346 buildings, hospitals, and shopping centers have collapsed or sustained severe damage. The government has declared a national state of emergency, suspended classes, and non-essential activities. Additionally, it announced an initial fund of 200 million dollars for reconstruction.
The international response began to take shape on Friday. Rodríguez announced that the first foreign rescuers, arriving from the Dominican Republic, were about to land.
"We have requested international assistance; the first rescuers arriving from the Dominican Republic are about to land, and in the coming hours, teams from other countries and the international community will arrive," she stated.
El Salvador mobilized 300 rescuers, and Mexico, Brazil, and the United Nations also confirmed their support.
From Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the deployment of search and rescue equipment in Venezuela, while the Southern Command mobilized military forces to join in the assistance efforts, a significant gesture given the historical antagonism between Washington and Nicolas Maduro's government.
Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain with a large Venezuelan diaspora, declared three days of official mourning and established medical clinics in the Caribbean country.
The USGS warned that its probabilistic estimation system places the final number of victims at between 10,000 and 100,000, with a 42% probability, although this is an automatic projection and not an actual count.
Rodríguez concluded his message from Macuto with a phrase that encapsulates the mood of the operation: “Our best wishes, all the hope, and all the prayers for the lives of Venezuelans.”
Filed under: