Death toll from devastating earthquakes in northwest Venezuela last week hits 1,719,with thousands still missing. Rescue operations ongoing,as officials report 5,034 injured,15,866 homeless from disaster.
Jorge Rodriguez,head of Venezuelan National Assembly, gave grim update on state TV Monday. Twin quakes, magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, wreaked havoc,especially in La Guaira — hardest-hit city . Search for survivors hampered by destruction's scale, ongoing aftershocks.
Monday, a 4.6-magnitude aftershock struck, further complicating rescue. US Geological Survey reported tremor at 10 km depth,epicenter north of Caraballeda on Venezuela's Caribbean coast. Rodriguez said no immediate further damage reported from aftershock.
Post-quakes,tens of thousands missing,massive re About 30,000 Venezuelan emergency workers,2,700 foreign specialists engaged in search and rescue. Critical 72-hour window for finding survivors over, yet hope persists, some rescues reported.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez expressed optimism Sunday: “Today we have recovered people alive and,therefore,operations are not being suspended. We always maintain hope.” International response significant,aid from 24 countries, over 500 tonnes of supplies,86 search teams with dogs.
Among successful rescues: 21-year-old Aaron Levi, pulled from rubble after 106 hours trapped. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele shared Levi's rescue news, crediting coordinated efforts of rescue teams from Venezuela,Mexico,El Salvador.
In La Guaira,situation dire. Families of missing gathered outside collapsed buildings,awaiting news of loved ones. Al Jazeera’s Teresa Bo reported many camping outdoors,as aid, including food and water, only recently reaching worst-hit areas.
Bo called disaster major test for international community,new government of Rodriguez, who took office after controversial ousting of former President Nicolas Maduro in January. As search for survivors continues, emotional toll on families, broader community palpable…
