The death toll from Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes has risen to 3,342, according to the country's information ministry, as rescue teams continue searching affected areas and survivors face an uncertain recovery.
The latest official figures show 16,470 people have been injured, while 17,345 have been left homeless after the powerful quakes caused widespread destruction across parts of the country.
Thousands remain in temporary shelters as authorities work to restore essential services and deliver aid.
The updated toll came as interim President Delcy Rodriguez used a speech marking Venezuela's 215th Independence Day to defend her government's response, following mounting criticism from residents and opposition figures who have accused officials of reacting too slowly to the disaster.
"We deployed the security forces immediately," she said.
She also announced the creation of a new military unit dedicated to responding to future emergencies and natural disasters, saying it would strengthen the country's ability to deal with disasters.
Since the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck on 24 June, Venezuela has recorded 995 aftershocks, according to the latest report.
Along La Guaira's battered coastline, scenes of makeshift recovery have become commonplace, as displaced families use ropes and bare hands to lower furniture and household goods from buildings that engineers have not yet cleared as safe.
Dayali Lopez, a quake survivor who spent three nights sleeping in the street after her home was rendered uninhabitable, said she returned to her damaged building to retrieve her belongings despite the risk, driven by economic necessity.
"You risk your life because we're in a politically broken country," Lopez said, standing beside a pile of salvaged possessions on the street.
Lopez said she prays each time she steps back through the door of her damaged building. "Every time I walk through that door I say, 'Dear God, if you gave me a second chance, please don't let me get hurt when I go in to get my things,'" she said.
Read more:
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said.&nbs...
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on D...
Nigeria's first Ebola case in more than a decade may be linked to travel in Uganda, Swiss authorities said on Thursday, although the source of ...
Russia is willing in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the United States in November, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on Dammam airport, while Iran's IRGC Navy claimed strikes on seven vessels and warned the U.S. of a wider response.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Yemen's Houthis have denied targeting the holy city of Medina on Wednesday adding that they have not conducted any military operations towards Saudi Arabia either, denying earlier comments from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Georgia’s Constitutional Court in Batumi will on Wednesday hear a lawsuit seeking to ban five Georgian opposition parties, four of which collectively gained 784,820 votes (37.79 per cent) in the country’s last national elections in 2024.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Nigeria's first Ebola case in more than a decade may be linked to travel in Uganda, Swiss authorities said on Thursday, although the source of infection remains unclear. Uganda maintains it has no cases of the disease.
Super typhoon Champi is set to batter Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture from Friday (23 October), bringing violent winds, torrential rain and waves up to 11 metres high, as airlines cancel flights and organisers scrap a major festival.
Two women from Austria and Switzerland have been freed after lengthy periods in captivity in Niger, following extensive diplomatic efforts to secure their release amid growing concerns over kidnappings in the Sahel region.
France has reported its first known human case of Shamonda virus following the death of an infected patient, authorities said on Thursday (22 October). The virus, typically found in livestock, is believed to have been transmitted by a biting midge.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment