Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 1,450...Rescue Efforts Continue

The death toll from the series of earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to at least 1,450. Rescue authorities continue to search for survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings on the fifth day since the earthquakes occurred.

AP Yonhap News

Jorge Rodriguez, Speaker of the Venezuelan National Assembly, announced on June 28 (local time) that the earthquake death toll had reached 1,450, an increase of 20 from the previous day. The number of injured stands at 3,150, while the number of displaced people has been tallied at 12,721. A total of 774 buildings have been damaged, of which 189 have been completely destroyed.

More than 430 aftershocks have occurred since the initial earthquake. In La Guaira state, where the damage is most concentrated, residents have been spending the nights outdoors, unable to return to their homes due to fears of further collapses.

Chaos continues at the rescue sites. With civilian volunteers and relief vehicles from across the country converging on roads leading to La Guaira state, the arrival of international rescue teams at the scene has also been delayed. When authorities restricted access to the affected areas to only government vehicles and authorized personnel, some volunteers protested against the measure.

Despite a shortage of equipment and heavy traffic congestion, reports of survivors continue to emerge. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez stated at a press conference the previous day that 33 people were rescued during debris search operations on June 27. She also shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing the dramatic rescue of an 11-year-old boy from the rubble in Caraballeda the day before, remarking, "Every life is a source of hope for Venezuela."

International support is also increasing. Interim President Rodriguez explained that, as of the previous day, 24 countries had sent 521 tons of relief supplies and more than 2,700 search and rescue personnel. However, it is reported that rescue operations continue to face difficulties due to delayed access to the sites and ongoing aftershocks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.