The death toll from earthquakes in Venezuela rises to 1,450

Rescue teams search for people trapped in the wreckage after an earthquake in La Guaira, Venezuela
Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo
The death toll from the strong earthquakes that hit Venezuela on Wednesday rose to 1,450, reported this Sunday (28) the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez.
"The death toll has reached 1,450," said Rodríguez in a televised address, presenting the data latest on the double earthquake that left a trail of devastation and death across the country, particularly in La Guaira, a city near Caracas.
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The latest official death toll, released on Saturday, was 1,430. The United Nations estimates that around 50,000 people are missing.
Also according to Rodríguez, 189 buildings collapsed in the tragedy.
President of Venezuela releases video of boy's rescue from the rubble
The balance includes only confirmed deaths, and the total number of victims could be much higher. The chances of finding people alive amid the rubble decrease significantly 48 to 72 hours after the tragedy.
➡ 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 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 hardest hit places are on the coast of the eastern portion of the country, with La Guaira being the city that suffered the most damage. The disaster region also includes Caracas and Maiquetía, where Simón Bolívar International Airport is located, the country's main gateway, which remains closed until further notice. Other international airports, such as Valencia, have reopened.
Buildings damaged by earthquakes three days after hitting Catia La Mar, Venezuela.
Matías Delacroix/AP Photo
International aid
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, on Saturday (27).
The day before, a Brazilian Air Force plane arrived in Venezuela carrying doctors, sniffer dogs and specialized equipment. According to the government, two other planes with humanitarian aid are expected to take off towards the country this Saturday.
The day before, a Brazilian Air Force plane arrived in Venezuela carrying doctors, sniffer dogs and specialized equipment. Also according to the government, two other planes with humanitarian aid should 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.
Understand earthquake in Venezuela
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Double earthquake
Both The earthquakes that shook Venezuela occurred less than a minute apart and with a difference of 5 kilometers between them. The epicenter of the strongest tremor was recorded in the Venezuelan city of El Guayabo, 168 km from the capital Caracas.
Replicates occurred in coastal cities close to the Venezuelan capital, such as La Guaira, which was heavily destroyed. Caracas international airport was also closed.
In addition to the intensity of the tremors - of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 - the shallow depth of the two tremors also explains the trail of destruction left. This is because the closer to the ground, the more the earthquake is felt.

Source: G1