Venezuela death toll reaches 188 after two powerful earthquakes
Authorities reported 1,500 injuries and widespread damage after back-to-back quakes, as emergency crews searched collapsed buildings.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
At least 188 people have been killed after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday night, according to authorities cited by Al Jazeera. The disaster has left rescue teams racing to find people still missing and raised fears that the death toll will climb.
Al Jazeera reported that the quakes measured 7.2 and 7.5, causing widespread destruction across affected areas. The U.S. Geological Survey said mass casualties were likely and damage was extensive, according to the broadcaster.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency after the earthquakes, Al Jazeera reported. Authorities have recorded 1,500 injuries, while hundreds of people remain unaccounted for.
Emergency crews were seen working through debris in Caracas, including in the Los Palos Grandes neighborhood, where a building collapsed, according to a Getty Images photo caption carried by Al Jazeera. The caption said rescuers and residents were searching the rubble after the seismic activity struck Venezuela and other parts of the Caribbean.
Buildings destroyed, families displaced
Roughly 250 buildings have been destroyed, leaving about 3,000 families without shelter, according to Al Jazeera’s summary of the situation. Officials also need to assess additional structures before allowing people to return, the broadcaster reported.
The scale of damage has complicated the rescue effort. With hundreds of people still missing, authorities expect the number of confirmed dead to increase, Al Jazeera reported.
The earthquakes hit a country already strained by a long-running economic crisis. Aid groups warned that the disaster could worsen conditions in Venezuela, which Al Jazeera said have been shaped by international sanctions and government mismanagement.
US pledges aid
The US government has pledged $150m in humanitarian assistance for Venezuela, according to Al Jazeera. The broadcaster reported that the pledge comes after Washington exerted control over the country since the Jan. 3 abduction and imprisonment of then-President Nicolas Maduro.
Relief agencies are expected to face immediate pressure to provide shelter, medical care and supplies for displaced families. Al Jazeera reported that thousands of families have been left without homes, while rescue teams continue to search damaged areas.
Officials have not given a timeline for completing building inspections or rescue operations. The number of injuries and missing people suggests the emergency response could continue for days as crews work through unstable structures and debris.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.