Earthquakes in Venezuela: death toll rises to 1,719

The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 1,719, with more than 22,000 people injured and in need of medical attention.

This was reported by The Associated Press and Bloomberg, citing the head of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodriguez.

He said 22,619 victims are currently receiving assistance in hospitals, field hospitals and special centers. The state of La Guaira was hardest hit, where authorities have set up 15 large shelters for people left homeless. Another 50 temporary centers have been set up in the Caracas metropolitan area.

A large-scale search and rescue operation continues at the site of the destruction. More than 3,300 rescuers, 140 search dogs, and dozens of pieces of special equipment have been involved in the elimination of the consequences. More than 700,000 tons of humanitarian aid have also been delivered to Venezuela.

Among those trapped under the rubble were people who had returned to Venezuela shortly before the earthquakes after being deported from the United States. According to eyewitnesses, more than 100 people were in a hotel in the state of La Guaira at the time of the tremors.

The plane carrying deportees reportedly arrived from Miami just hours before the storm struck. There were 146 Venezuelans on board, including 19 women and seven children.

The UN humanitarian coordinator in Venezuela, Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro, said rescuers were continuing to work at the site of the landslides and were still finding people alive, although the basic 72-hour period for rescue had already passed.

Meanwhile, aftershocks continue to be recorded in the region. On Monday, a new earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 struck off the coast of Venezuela, one of hundreds of aftershocks following the main shocks.

Recall that in Venezuela, two powerful earthquakes that occurred on the evening of June 24 killed at least 235 people and injured more than 4,000. Rescue operations are ongoing in the affected areas, and the number of victims may increase.

The first earthquake, measuring 7.2 in magnitude, was reported to have struck about 160 kilometers west of Caracas. Less than a minute later, another powerful aftershock measuring 7.5 in magnitude was recorded.

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