The death toll from two earthquakes
in Venezuela has risen to 589, with thousands more injured, acting
President Delcy Rodriguez has said. More than 50,000 people have been
reported missing as international search, rescue, and relief efforts
intensify.
Two major tremors measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 by
the US Geological Survey struck off Venezuela’s northern coast on
Wednesday near the city of Moron and were felt across most of the
country as well as in neighboring Colombia and several Caribbean
islands.
The disaster, unlike anything the country has
experienced in over a century, caused significant devastation, with
entire building blocks collapsing, according to harrowing aerial
footage. The coastal city of La Guaira was among the hardest hit.
Caracas
has announced a nationwide state of emergency, deploying the armed
forces, civil defense units, and emergency services. Several nations,
including Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, India, Mexico, El Salvador,
Türkiye, and the US, have announced sending teams to support the
efforts. Washington also said it would lift some unilateral sanctions it
had imposed on Venezuela to facilitate the humanitarian efforts.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, and said Moscow stands in solidarity with the “friendly Venezuelan people.” The Kremlin said Russia is ready to provide assistance if request
China also extended condolences and said it is ready to assist, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun expressing confidence that the Venezuelan people will overcome the disaster and rebuild. Other countries and international organizations, including France, Germany, Türkiye, Iran, the Vatican, the UN and the World Bank, have also pledged assistance or expressed support for relief efforts.
The US also offered assistance despite a history of tensions. President Donald Trump previously boasted that America had “taken over” the country’s oil sector after the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro during a commando raid in January.
The Venezuelan quakes came just hours before a separate magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit Japan’s northern prefectures of Aomori and Iwate, injuring at least eight people, mainly due to falling objects, according to the country’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
The deadliest earthquake in Venezuela’s recent history struck in 1967, killing around 300 people and injuring some 1,600 in Caracas. Another earthquake in the country’s northeast in 1997 killed at least 81 people.
RT