Key facts
- Venezuela's earthquake death toll has surpassed 3,800.
- Over 16,700 people have been injured in Venezuela due to the earthquakes.
- Nearly 18,000 people are homeless in Venezuela following the earthquakes.
- Rescue operations are ongoing in Venezuela, with survivors being found days after the tremors.
- Venezuela's government is seeking the release of its frozen assets for earthquake recovery.
- Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto cited illegal sanctions for the asset freezes.
- A Venezuelan fashion designer is producing body bags instead of gowns.
- 42 Pakistani security personnel were killed in Balochistan attacks since July 6.
- 54 militants were killed by security forces in Balochistan.
- The Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for attacks in Balochistan.
The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to 3,811, with 16,740 injured and 17,907 left homeless, according to lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez. Rescue operations are ongoing, with survivors, including a child, being pulled from rubble days after the initial tremors. In the wake of the devastating earthquakes, Venezuela's government has requested the release of its frozen assets to fund recovery efforts. Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto urged countries holding blocked funds to initiate a plan for their release, attributing the asset freezes to illegal sanctions. Highlighting the overwhelming scale of the disaster and community efforts to aid in recovery, a fashion designer in Venezuela has repurposed his workshop to produce body bags. This shift from creating elegant dresses to sewing plastic sheaths for the deceased underscores the severity of the situation.
Separately, Pakistan's military reported that 42 police and army personnel were killed in three militant attacks in Balochistan province since July 6. In response, security forces killed 54 militants. The Baloch Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for numerous operations in the region.
The Venezuelan government's plea for access to frozen assets is tied to the need for resources to address the widespread destruction caused by the earthquakes. The repurposing of a fashion workshop to produce body bags illustrates the immediate and grim necessities arising from the high casualty count and the community's adaptation to the crisis.