Death Toll From Venezuela Quakes Rises to 1,450

Alsharq Tribune-AFP 

The death toll from the two devastating earthquakes that struck the country last Wednesday has soared to 1,450 amid meager hopes to account for survivors, authorities in Venezuela said on Sunday.

President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez, said the fatalities spiked from 1,430 to 1,450, noting that 774 buildings have been damaged, including 189 buildings which had been entirely crumbled as a result of the two earthquakes, which measured 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude.

Rodríguez further added that tens of thousands are still missing in the aftermath of these two quakes, which hit the northern parts of the country and caused massive devastation, particularly in La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas.

The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, warned that the death toll is likely to rise, noting that 50,000 people remain missing.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed that approximately 6.76 million people have been affected by the two earthquakes and are in need of emergency shelter, clean water, health services, and essential humanitarian assistance.