Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 235 as Rescue Teams Race Against Time

Caracas: The death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has climbed to at least 235, according to the country's Health Ministry, as rescue teams continue searching for hundreds of people believed to be trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

The powerful earthquakes, measuring magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck just 40 seconds apart on Wednesday, making them the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century and the deadliest in decades.

The shallow quakes, which occurred at a depth of just 10 kilometres, unleashed intense ground shaking across the country's central coast and the capital, Caracas. Widespread building collapses, power outages and communication disruptions have hampered rescue efforts, while a series of aftershocks has raised fears of further structural failures.

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National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said around 200 people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble. "We are racing against time in the hope of rescuing as many people as possible," he said during a press briefing on Thursday.

Experts say the shallow depth of the earthquakes allowed much of their energy to be released near the surface, significantly increasing the level of destruction. The close proximity of the epicentres to Caracas, one of Venezuela's most densely populated regions, further amplified the impact.

Seismologists have also pointed out that Venezuela has not experienced a major earthquake in nearly five decades, leaving many residents with limited disaster preparedness. Aging infrastructure and years of underinvestment have further increased the vulnerability of buildings to powerful seismic activity.

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To accelerate rescue and recovery operations, authorities have announced a series of emergency measures. These include deploying debris-removal equipment from private companies, creating a 200-million-dollar disaster assistance fund, and extending special credit facilities to affected businesses.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said Venezuela is coordinating international assistance after at least a dozen countries offered support following the disaster. Rescue operations remain underway as emergency teams continue searching for survivors in the worst-affected areas.
 

With inputs from IANS

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