Venezuela quake death toll rises to 1,450
Caracas, June 29
Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said that the death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela Wednesday has risen to 1,450.
After the two powerful magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, Venezuela has recorded 430 light to moderate aftershocks, Rodriguez said in the latest government update on the national emergency.
Earlier on Saturday, he said on state television that 3,238 people have been injured and 3,142 families affected by the disaster, Xinhua news agency reported.
On behalf of Venezuelan authorities, Rodriguez offered his deepest condolences to the thousands of victims of the natural disaster.
He said tens of thousands of people are still working around the clock on search and rescue operations.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research (Funvisis) reported on Saturday that a magnitude-4.1 earthquake was felt across the central region of the South American country, further unsettling a population already on edge following two devastating quakes earlier this week.
The state seismological agency said the epicentre of the latest tremor was located approximately 35 km west of La Guaira, a key port city along the central coast that has been declared a disaster zone after sustaining severe damage from Wednesday's two powerful earthquakes.
The agency reported that the quake occurred at a shallow depth of 5 km, which typically amplifies ground shaking and increases the potential for structural damage.
Residents in Caracas and surrounding areas reported feeling the tremor, with many rushing out of buildings in fear of further collapse. The quake comes just days after the region was struck by two significant seismic events on Wednesday that caused widespread destruction, including collapsed buildings, landslides and casualties.
Officials have been struggling to coordinate relief efforts, as rescue teams work tirelessly to reach affected communities in coastal and mountainous regions.
— IANS
Reader Comments
These numbers are staggering. 3,238 injured, 3,142 families affected... plus thousands still working on search and rescue. Venezuela's infrastructure already fragile—this is a disaster on top of a crisis. Caracas must be in chaos. My thoughts are with the Venezuelan people. 🇻🇪💔
The shallow depth of 5 km for that aftershock is especially worrying—it amplifies damage. La Guaira being declared a disaster zone is serious. Having lived through the 2015 Nepal earthquake aftershocks, I know the psychological toll. People must be sleeping outside in fear. Hope the world sends seismologists and engineers to help rebuild.
This is awful. But I'm concerned about the reporting—430 aftershocks and 1,450 deaths? The numbers seem to keep rising. While I offer sincere condolences, I wish global media would focus more on the rescue efforts and what people on the ground really need. Stories get lost in stats. 😔
It's terrible. 😢 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes are monstrous. Prayers for Venezuela. But I also hope the Venezuelan government's handling is transparent—too often aid gets politicized. India has disaster response experience; we should offer technical help and supplies. A small gesture goes a long way in times like this. 🙏
The fact that people are still working round the clock for search and rescue shows the resilience. But 3,142 families affected—that's a huge number needing shelter, food,
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