The death toll from Venezuela’s twin earthquakes has increased to 1,430, with 3,238 people injured and more than 50,000 still unaccounted for, raising fears the number of casualties could increase.
The UN estimates that the 6.76 million people affected by the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes that devastated the country now need emergency shelter, clean water, healthcare and other life-saving aid.
Teams from at least 17 nations have joined the search for survivors as the United States resumed relief flights into Caracas, reopening a runway at Simon Bolivar International Airport. In La Guaira, residents pulled a baby alive from the rubble more than 32 hours after the quakes, a rare moment of hope.
According to National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, the damage caused by the disaster is estimated at $6.7 billion, or about six per cent of the Gross Domestic Product of Venezuela.
Public anger has continued to mount, with many survivors accusing authorities of being too slow to react to the disaster.
“We were the ones who took them out,” Yessica Mendoza, mourning the loss of her daughter and son-in-law, told AFP. During an official visit to a devastated neighbourhood, residents shouted, “The government isn’t doing anything for the people” and “No help ever came.”
Venezuela was “not alone”, interim leader Delcy Rodriguez said, adding that US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had reaffirmed America’s commitment to support relief efforts.
Humanitarian agencies warned the earthquakes hit an already struggling Venezuela, which was facing economic hardship, failing public services and food insecurity, exacerbating the crisis.
Among the confirmed dead are foreign nationals from Portugal, Spain, Brazil, China, Chile and Italy as emergency workers continue racing against time to find more survivors.
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