Key facts
- Twin earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela.
- Over 1,700 people have been killed by the earthquakes.
- Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for.
- European rescue teams from France, the UK, and Spain have arrived in Venezuela.
- A magnitude 4.6 aftershock occurred on Monday.
- Residents in La Guaira described a slow and inadequate government response.
- A father and son were rescued after being trapped for four days.
- Over 100 Venezuelans deported from the U.S. are missing after the earthquakes.
- A government-run hotel where some deported Venezuelans were staying collapsed.
- Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is in Panama and plans to return to Venezuela.
- China has pledged US$14.7 million in earthquake relief to Venezuela.
Powerful twin earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, have struck Venezuela, resulting in over 1,700 confirmed deaths and leaving tens of thousands unaccounted for. European rescue teams from France, the UK, and Spain have arrived to aid in the search for survivors. Many affected areas are experiencing a lack of government aid, with residents leading self-rescue efforts and accusing the government of negligence and apathy. A magnitude 4.6 aftershock occurred on Monday, causing panic among residents and disrupting ongoing rescue operations.
Amidst the devastation, a father and son were successfully rescued after being trapped for four days, offering a glimmer of hope. However, the situation is complicated by the disappearance of over 100 Venezuelans who were deported from the U.S. and arrived in their homeland just hours before the earthquakes. Many of these individuals were reportedly staying at a government-run hotel that subsequently collapsed, hindering rescue and identification efforts.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, currently in Panama, has vowed to do whatever it takes to return to Venezuela to assist with recovery efforts. She has accused the government of blocking her return and plans to coordinate citizen-led initiatives during the emergency. In terms of international aid, China has pledged an additional US$14.7 million to support Venezuela's recovery efforts in the earthquake-affected regions.