Damage from earthquakes in Venezuela could reach US$6.7 billion, says UN

50 thousand people are still trapped in Venezuela, projects UN
The physical damage caused by the two earthquakes that hit Venezuela last week could reach US$ 6.7 billion (R$ 34.6 billion), equivalent to 6% of the South American country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The assessment is preliminary and is based on seismic models, satellite images and population data, said the organization. The projection also includes losses of assets - such as housing - but does not cover the broader economic impacts caused by the disaster. The information comes from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
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➡ On Wednesday night (24), two earthquakes in a row hit the northern region of the country, where Caracas is located. In addition to the deaths, the tremors collapsed buildings and left a trail of destruction in the Venezuelan capital and surrounding areas. The earthquakes were the strongest in the country in more than 100 years.
A new report released by the Venezuelan government this Saturday (27) indicated that the number of deaths due to the earthquakes has already exceeded 1,400.
In addition, according to the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, the disaster still left more than 3,000 injured and 3,100 people homeless.
Houses damaged by the earthquakes remain standing three days after the tremors hit Catia La Mar, Venezuela.
Matias Delacroix/AP Photo
The United Nations (UN) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimate that the number The number of victims could be much higher, taking into account the strength of the earthquake, the lack of structure and the densely populated areas that were affected.
Earlier, a projection by the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated that more than 6 million people may have been affected by the tremors.
"Up to 6.8 million people may have been affected by the earthquakes," the organization said in a statement. The projections were based on population and damage analysis. The numbers include up to two million people in Caracas alone.
The United Nations (UN) Humanitarian Aid Office estimates that the number of people missing in the tragedy is more than 50,000.
Rodríguez, who is the brother of President Delcy Rodríguez, said on Friday (26) that there were still more than a hundred people trapped in the rubble and that, up until that moment, at least 383 buildings that had been completely collapsed or suffered damage.
Venezuela receives international aid
Rescue teams are now struggling to find the missing and pull people out of the rubble. According to information from the Venezuelan government, more than 1,600 foreign rescuers arrived in the country to reinforce relief operations.
"In the last few hours, Venezuela received 17 flights carrying more than 1,600 members of rescue teams and, in the next 24 hours, 25 more flights are expected," said Oliver Blanco, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The day before, a Brazilian Air Force plane arrived in Venezuela carrying doctors, sniffer dogs and equipment specialists. According to the government, two other planes with humanitarian aid are expected to take off towards the country this Saturday.
The interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez also stated, in a statement on the country's state television during the early hours of the morning, that 10 other countries would still join the rescue efforts and that 14,000 military and police were in La Guaira.
*This report is being updated

Source: G1