The death toll from the double earthquake in Venezuela on June 24 was raised from 1,450 to 1,719 deaths, the President of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, announced on Monday, June 29.
“The number of people who lost their lives is 1,719,” said Jorge Rodriguez, reporting 5,034 people injured. The United Nations estimates the number of missing people to be around 50,000 while search operations for potential survivors continue. “855 buildings were affected, 189 completely collapsed and 666 suffered partial collapse or were seriously or even strongly affected,” according to Jorge Rodriguez.
“The two tragic, terrible earthquakes, which had a great impact on sectors of our population” were followed by “609 aftershocks” including one on the morning of Monday of magnitude 4.2, he stressed. The shock was strongly felt by the population.
The possibilities of finding survivors diminish as time passes, experts note. The UN, which fears an increase in the number of victims, will provide 10,000 body bags, hoping however that the toll remains lower.
Mobilization of the United States
The United States continues its mobilization on Monday to “save” Venezuela and increase “vital” international aid in order to find the last miraculous victims, five days after the double earthquake in the north of the country.
Nearly 130 Marines have been deployed to help with repairs at the port of La Guaira, near the capital Caracas, where “they are working day and night to (…) enable the delivery of vital supplies by sea,” a US official announced Monday.
A strong symbol, the USS Fort Lauderdale, an amphibious troop and equipment transport ship, is currently anchored in the waters of this seaside city, ravaged and most affected by the earthquake, and where most of the swimming pool residences, collapsed like houses of cards, now offer a spectacle of desolation.
