Key facts
- Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela's Caribbean coast last Wednesday.
- The death toll has risen to at least 2,295.
- Over 11,000 people have been injured.
- Survivors criticize the government's rescue efforts as slow and inadequate.
- Citizens have formed their own rescue crews.
- Four Venezuelan police officers were arrested for alleged looting.
- Venezuelan nationals deported from the US on June 24 are missing or feared dead.
- A hotel housing deportees collapsed.
- Medics fear disease outbreaks due to unsanitary conditions and damaged hospitals.
- Mexico's Topos Azteca rescue brigade has deployed to Venezuela.
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela's Caribbean coast last Wednesday, resulting in widespread devastation and a death toll that has risen to at least 2,295, with over 11,000 injured. Survivors are voicing strong criticism of the government's response, describing it as slow, inadequate, and disorganized. Many citizens have taken it upon themselves to form their own rescue crews, supplementing state efforts and alleging misconduct by some military and police personnel.
Adding to the unfolding crisis, four Venezuelan police officers have been arrested and face dismissal for allegedly looting cash from earthquake rubble. These arrests occur amidst growing public anger over the government's perceived slow rescue efforts and alleged misconduct by officials. Furthermore, a group of Venezuelan nationals deported from the US on June 24, hours before the earthquakes struck, are now missing or feared dead. Many of these deportees were reportedly housed in a hotel that subsequently collapsed.
Medics are expressing concern about the potential spread of infections and disease among earthquake survivors. This fear stems from unsanitary conditions and the damage sustained by hospitals, which compromises healthcare infrastructure. International aid efforts are underway, but many citizens feel abandoned by their government. Mexico's Topos Azteca rescue brigade has deployed to Venezuela, bringing specialized search and rescue equipment, including body bags, as hopes of finding survivors diminish.