Venezuela earthquake death toll climbs to 1,719, thousands missing

The death toll from last week's devastating twin earthquakes in Venezuela has risen to 1,719, with tens of thousands still missing, officials said on Monday, June 29. A strong aftershock also jolted the country during a critical period for search and rescue operations.

National Assembly leader Jorge Rodriguez announced on state television that the number of injured had increased to 5,034 and that 15,866 people are now homeless after the back-to-back magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that struck the northwest of the country.

A 4.6-magnitude aftershock hit earlier on Monday, with the epicentre north of Caraballeda on Venezuela's Caribbean coast, according to the US Geological Survey. Rodriguez said there were no immediate reports of additional damage, but residents in Caracas evacuated buildings after the tremor.

Rescue efforts have been focused on the northern port city of La Guaira, the hardest-hit area. Some 30,000 Venezuelan emergency workers and 2,700 foreign experts are involved in the search. Although the critical 72-hour window for rescuing trapped victims passed on Saturday evening, a handful of rescues on Sunday offered hope, with one victim found alive after 106 hours under rubble.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said support has come from 24 countries, which have sent more than 500 tonnes of supplies, 2,700 personnel and 86 search dog teams.

Relatives of the missing have marked collapsed homes where they are waiting for bodies to be recovered. Aid, including water and food, has only just started reaching the hardest-hit areas, where many residents continue to camp outside.

Source: Al Jazeera