The most severe earthquakes of the century
Two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 that struck Venezuela on June 24 have been recorded as the strongest tremors the country has seen in the last century. National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez announced that there are 10,500 injured and 15,000 disaster victims, and that 6,461 people have been rescued since rescue operations began.
As the death toll rises to 1,943, tens of thousands remain missing. Search and rescue operations continue in the area.
Miracle rescue from rubble
Just as hope was beginning to fade, a Jordanian civil defense team managed to pull a 3-year-old child from the rubble in the capital Caracas. According to a statement from the Jordanian civil defense, the child's vital signs are good. Footage of the rescue has gone viral on social media.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
In the hardest-hit northern state of La Guaira, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported widespread food shortages, a breakdown of basic services, and communication disruptions. Tensions are rising among the local population as aid falls short.
Epidemic warning and aid appeals
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the risk of post-disaster epidemics and described the existing systems for identifying casualties and registering victims as 'inadequate.' The organization estimates that the cost of these procedures alone is $15 million. It also stressed that 30,000 people need shelter for six months.
The World Food Program (WFP), meanwhile, has issued an emergency appeal for $50 million to feed 500,000 people for three months.
Losses and destruction
According to United Nations data, approximately 50,000 people are still missing and 1.2 million tons of rubble have accumulated in La Guaira state. The destruction caused by the earthquakes has severely affected the country's infrastructure.
