Death toll climbs past 500 in devastating Venezuelan earthquakes
Two back-to-back earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck Venezuela on June 24-25, killing at least 589 people and injuring nearly 3,000. The country faces a massive rescue operation as teams from around the world help search for survivors trapped under collapsed buildings.
The Disaster Unfolds
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck near San Felipe, about 284km west of Caracas, at 6:04pm on Wednesday, followed almost immediately by a magnitude 7.5 quake near Yumare, about 293km west of the capital. The death toll has risen to 589, with 2,980 people injured, according to acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Friday. The second quake was Venezuela's most powerful in more than a century.
Destruction and Rescue Efforts
Buildings collapsed in and around the capital, trapping at least 200 people, with the interim President noting that dozens of buildings have collapsed. Flattened buildings and collapsed roads appeared in Caracas, while the area of La Guaira was hit particularly hard. Rescuers are working to find more people trapped under the rubble during the critical "golden window" of up to 72 hours following the earthquake.
International Response and Predictions
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington "is immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela"." Rescue specialists from across Venezuela and other countries, such as the U.S., Mexico, Spain and Qatar, are traveling to the disaster zone. However, the USGS, using predictive modelling, said the death toll would most likely run into the thousands and has a substantial probability of exceeding 10,000.
Compounding Crisis
The disaster comes at a dire time for Venezuela, which was already in a political and financial crisis. Venezuela has one of the most restricted media landscapes in the world, with more than 200 websites blocked, including local and international news and VPN services.