At least 188 dead and more than 1,500 injured by the double earthquake in Venezuela

The president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez, reported this Thursday the death of 188 people, as well as another 1,520 injured, as a result of the powerful earthquakes of magnitude 7.5 and 7.2 that shook several parts of the country, including Caracas, last night.

“Until this moment, unfortunately, we must report 188 Venezuelan men and women who have died due to the action of the earthquake, 1,520 injured people already admitted to hospitals and being treated at this time, 157 missing people reported,” Rodríguez said in an appearance before the media.

Rodríguez has also estimated at “more than 200” the number of people who are still trapped in the rubble of the buildings for now. “We are in a furious race against time to rescue most of them alive,” he said.

Likewise, he detailed that some 280 buildings have been affected by these powerful tremors, mainly in the state of La Guaira, which has been by far the most devastated region, and especially the areas of Caraballeda and Playa Grande, including eight hospitals and twenty shopping centers.

Rodríguez thanked the immediate support of the international community, which has made itself available to the Venezuelan Government for rescue tasks. In that sense, he has reported that rescue teams have already left for Venezuela from countries such as the United States, Mexico, Spain, or Qatar.

Likewise, he has asked citizens to collaborate with the authorities, remain calm and remain united in the face of the catastrophe. “The main mission is to put aside any form of diatribe, any situation that divides us and become a single force (…) that collaborates and cares for the people who have suffered the rigors of the tragedy,” he asked.

During the day this Thursday, the interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, announced the creation of an initial fund of 200 million dollars, with resources from the International Monetary Fund to address the situation and the reconstruction of infrastructure and hospitals, in addition to homes for those who lost their homes due to the double earthquake.

The strong earthquakes have been followed by 30 aftershocks that have especially shaken the state of La Guaira, Caracas and Yaracuy, where the epicenter of these tremors has been established. The Government has declared a state of disaster.