Key facts
- A magnitude 4.6 aftershock struck Venezuela early Monday.
- The aftershock occurred near Caraballeda on the Caribbean coast.
- The initial earthquakes have resulted in 1,450 reported deaths.
- Thousands of people are still missing.
- International rescue teams are assisting in the search for survivors.
A strong aftershock measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale jolted Venezuela early Monday, adding to the distress following last week's devastating earthquakes. The tremor, which struck about 27 kilometers north of Caraballeda on the Caribbean coast, caused residents in Caracas to flee into the streets again. Colombia's geological survey reported the magnitude at 5.1.
Officials reported no immediate additional damage from the aftershock. However, the event occurred as civilian and emergency responders continued to comb through the ruins of collapsed buildings in the hard-hit port city of La Guaira and surrounding areas. The government has reported 1,450 deaths from the initial back-to-back earthquakes, with thousands more still missing.
Despite the diminishing likelihood of finding survivors, rescue efforts are ongoing. International teams, including over 2,600 rescue workers with specialized equipment and search dogs, have arrived to aid in the critical search, which continues even as the crucial survival window has passed.