The death toll from two earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to 235, with the number of injured reaching 4,300, according to official reports.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing a statement by Venezuelan Health Minister Carlos Alvarado via teleSURtv, that the situation remains critical as search and rescue operations continue.
Preliminary data indicates that 157 people are currently missing, while approximately 200 individuals remain trapped under rubble. The disaster has impacted more than 2,927 families across the affected regions.
The seismic activity has caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure, including 250 buildings and eight hospitals. The epicenter of the destruction is located in La Guaira, where over 100 buildings have collapsed. Authorities have announced the deployment of 11,500 security personnel to assist in ongoing rescue efforts.
International response efforts are underway, with El Salvador and the Dominican Republic dispatching aid brigades. The United States has authorized special operations to facilitate relief, granting exemptions from existing sanctions and allocating $150 million in humanitarian aid through international organizations.
The disaster has also disrupted transportation, with major flight cancellations reported by Iberia and Air Europa due to operational difficulties at the capital's main airport.
Venezuela, located in a seismically active zone in South America, frequently faces geological challenges. This event highlights the country's ongoing vulnerability to natural disasters and the critical need for robust emergency response infrastructure in the region.
