Key facts
- Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, defended the government's earthquake response.
- Claims of slow rescue efforts and under-reported casualties were rejected by Rodriguez.
- The death toll from the earthquakes has surpassed 2,600.
- The death toll has risen to 2,645.
- Over 12,000 people have been injured.
- 15,000 people have been left homeless.
- The earthquakes struck last week.
- The quakes caused widespread damage, toppling apartment complexes.
- Families in La Guaira face waits at a makeshift morgue to identify loved ones.
- The disaster has overwhelmed local services.
- Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is seeking to return to Venezuela.
Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, has defended the government's response to a devastating earthquake, pushing back against accusations of slow rescue efforts and under-reported casualty figures. The death toll from the twin earthquakes has now surpassed 2,600, reaching 2,645. In addition to the fatalities, over 12,000 people have been injured, and an estimated 15,000 individuals have been left homeless by the disaster. The earthquakes, which struck last week, have caused extensive damage across the country, leading to the collapse of numerous apartment buildings.