Death Toll Rises to 920 After Twin Earthquakes in Venezuela
Quick Look
- The death toll from twin earthquakes in Venezuela has reached 920, with hundreds still missing.
- International rescue teams are en route, while the opposition has launched a website tracking over 58,000 unaccounted for.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Twin earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela, causing widespread destruction and a rising death toll.
The official death toll from twin earthquakes that flattened parts of Caracas and surrounding areas rose to 920, the authorities said on Friday.
The government has estimated hundreds of people still trapped and missing nearly two days after magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 tremors struck about 160 km (100 miles) west of Caracas.
International search and rescue teams from at least 17 countries are being scrambled to Venezuela to help look for survivors of Wednesday’s devastating twin earthquakes, the United Nations said on Friday.
Venezuela’s political opposition set up a website to track missing people, in parallel to government efforts.
It showed there were more than 58,000 people unaccounted for, far exceeding the government’s official count, which reached 150 on Thursday at midday.
Families posted missing-person fliers with photos of while others shared handwritten lists of names.
Open Questions
- How many people are truly missing?
- What is the full extent of the damage?
- How effective will international aid be?
