Venezuela Earthquakes: Death Toll Rises, Spain Leads International Rescue Efforts

The president of Venezuela's National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, gave a fresh update on Friday afternoon on the toll from the twin earthquakes that devastated the country two days ago: 920 people have died, and 3,360 have been injured.

Meanwhile, the UN's top humanitarian official, Tom Fletcher, told AFP that it is estimated there are 'more than 50,000 missing people'.

The latest update from the Spanish foreign ministry keeps at four the number of Spanish nationals killed in the twin earthquakes in Venezuela, raises the number of missing to 106 and confirms that 14 are known to be trapped under the rubble. 'They are the absolute priority for the rescue teams deployed to Venezuela on an Air Force plane,' foreign ministry sources said.

The foreign ministry is advising Spanish nationals in Venezuela to contact consular emergency services. Among the dead is Isabel Jara, director of the Canary Islands Office in Venezuela, according to the Canary Islands regional government.

Spain is preparing the repatriation of Spanish citizens affected by the earthquake in Venezuela and is working to locate those who were not registered with the consulate or who require special assistance. The operation includes a military aircraft with personnel from the UME, Madrid Fire Brigade and AECID, which has released an initial emergency aid package worth one million euros.

Spain is also coordinating the international response through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and has offered to deploy the Start field hospital to reinforce on-the-ground medical care.

UME personnel have already arrived in Venezuela

Members of Spain's Military Emergency Unit, the UME, have now arrived in Venezuela with 59 troops, two Army engineers and eight canine units to support the rescue effort.

Spain is considering stepping up the dispatch of rescue teams and humanitarian supplies from its logistics hubs in the region. The military aircraft sent to Venezuela with aid and emergency crews has begun its return journey with 59 Spaniards, 11 Portuguese nationals and a Bulgarian woman on board, who are being flown to the Dominican Republic. So far, 16 countries and the UN have sent planes with humanitarian aid, which will arrive in the coming days.