The death toll from Venezuela’s twin earthquakes has climbed to 1,450 as authorities battle hundreds of aftershocks, extend school closures and continue large-scale rescue operations.
Search-and-rescue teams continue operations after powerful earthquakes left hundreds dead across Venezuela. | IANS
Rescue teams continued searching for survivors across Venezuela on Sunday as the death toll from last week’s devastating twin earthquakes climbed to 1,450, while fresh aftershocks complicated relief operations in several of the worst-hit areas.
Authorities are still assessing the scale of the destruction after the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck the country on Wednesday. Hundreds of aftershocks have since shaken affected regions, forcing thousands of residents to remain on alert as emergency workers race against time.
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Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said the country has recorded 430 light to moderate aftershocks since the two major earthquakes. Earlier, he said 3,238 people had been injured and 3,142 families affected by the disaster.
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Offering condolences to families who lost loved ones, Rodriguez said tens of thousands of personnel remain engaged in round-the-clock search and rescue operations.
The Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research (Funvisis) reported that a magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck the country’s central region on Saturday.
According to the agency, the tremor’s epicentre was located about 35 kilometres west of La Guaira, a major port city that has been declared a disaster zone following extensive damage from Wednesday’s earthquakes.
The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 5 kilometres, a factor that can intensify ground shaking.
Residents in Caracas and neighbouring areas reported feeling the tremor, with many leaving buildings fearing further structural collapses.
Separately, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced the formation of a presidential commission to assess damage to homes and critical infrastructure caused by the earthquakes.
She also said schools would remain closed for another week as authorities continue emergency response and recovery efforts.
Rodriguez highlighted a rare moment of hope during the rescue operation, saying an 11-year-old boy was pulled out alive from the rubble in Caraballeda earlier in the day.
“In these hours, every life is hope for Venezuela,” she said.
The US Southern Command said international rescue teams remain engaged in search operations across the hardest-hit communities.
In a post on X, it said first responders had assisted a US Marine climbing through collapsed structures during efforts to locate survivors.
“Operating day and night, these crews continue to support international search and rescue operations across the hardest-hit communities,” the command said, adding that US military personnel were supporting US Department of State-led disaster assistance efforts in Venezuela.
The disaster has hit Venezuela as the country continues to grapple with economic difficulties.
According to CNN, the country has been dealing with years of sanctions, corruption, hyperinflation, and challenges in its oil sector. The report said the economy has contracted sharply over the past decade despite recent signs of higher oil production following the easing of some US sanctions.
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