Bangkok: The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela has climbed past 1,430, with more than 3,200 injured. International rescue teams continue their search for survivors, while the U.S. Geological Survey estimates the death toll could exceed 10,000.
According to Thai News Agency, Venezuela's National Congress president, Jorge Rodrguez, revealed that the death toll from the two massive earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, has risen to at least 1,430. Approximately 3,200 individuals have been injured, and around 3,100 have been displaced. The numbers are expected to climb as search and rescue operations continue in the hardest-hit areas, primarily in the state of La Guaira and several suburbs of Caracas.
The Venezuelan government reports that hundreds of people are still missing or trapped under rubble. A website supported by the Venezuelan opposition indicates that more than 54,000 people are unreachable, and their fate remains unknown. This aligns with the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) estimate that the earthquakes could result in more than 10,000 fatalities, potentially making this one of the deadliest earthquakes in Latin America in the past century.
Meanwhile, 21 rescue teams from around the world, including experts from Mexico, the United States, El Salvador, Spain, and Brazil, have arrived in Venezuela with search dogs and rescue equipment. They are continuing their search for missing people under the rubble in La Guaira state. The rescue operation faces challenges due to a lack of heavy machinery and more than 400 aftershocks, leading to widespread discontent among the affected population regarding the slow pace of aid and inadequate government coordination.