The death toll from a series of earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela has risen to at least 188. Many residents remain trapped under collapsed buildings, raising the likelihood that the number of casualties will increase.
According to Reuters, Jorge Rodriguez, the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, stated in a TV briefing on June 25 that the earthquakes, which occurred the previous day, resulted in at least 188 fatalities and 1,520 injuries. He noted that approximately 200 people are believed to be trapped in the rubble of collapsed structures and that rescue teams are actively conducting search and rescue operations.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the first earthquake, measuring 7.2 in magnitude, struck near Morón in Carabobo State on June 24. This was followed by a second quake of 7.5 magnitude less than a minute later, hitting an area about 160 kilometers west of the capital, Caracas.
Rodriguez also indicated that at least 250 buildings have been damaged or destroyed as a result of the quakes.
La Guaira State, located near the coast and home to Venezuela's main international airport and port, has been identified as the hardest-hit area due to the collapse of high-rise buildings and damage to key infrastructure.
Reuters reported that the main airport in Caracas, located in La Guaira, has been closed due to earthquake damage, and some regions are experiencing power outages and communication disruptions.
Interim President Delsy Rodriguez has declared La Guaira a disaster area and is overseeing recovery efforts on-site. She stated, "We will expedite the deployment of heavy machinery to rescue residents trapped in the debris."
This earthquake is considered one of the strongest to hit Venezuela in over a century. The USGS has projected that the death toll could reach into the thousands based on predictive models. Local authorities are facing challenges in rescue and damage assessment due to aftershock fears and infrastructure damage.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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