By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
The death toll from the catastrophic twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen sharply to 164, with 971 people injured, as emergency teams continue an urgent search for survivors amid widespread devastation.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said authorities have recorded about 30 aftershocks since Wednesday’s disaster, heightening fears of further destruction and complicating rescue operations. The updated figures represent a significant increase from earlier reports that listed 32 fatalities and more than 700 injuries.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the powerful earthquakes measured 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, striking the same region within seconds of each other in what experts described as a rare earthquake doublet. The first tremor hit about 21 kilometres west of the coastal town of Morón before a stronger quake followed just 39 seconds later.
The earthquakes caused extensive damage across the country, including in the capital where buildings were severely affected and the nation’s main international airport was forced to suspend operations.
In the heavily impacted Altamira district, a 22-storey residential building collapsed, leaving rescue workers and volunteers combing through the rubble as desperate families searched for missing relatives.
Reacting to the tragedy, Donald Trump expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and said the United States was prepared to support relief efforts, directing relevant agencies to stand ready to provide assistance if needed.
Emergency responders remain on the ground as authorities assess the full scale of the destruction in what is shaping up to be one of Venezuela’s deadliest natural disasters in recent history.
