Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Tops 1,400

The death toll from the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela has risen to at least 1,430. Rescue workers are continuing to search for survivors in the hardest-hit areas along the coast and around Caracas, where aftershocks are still occurring.

Meanwhile, more than 1,600 foreign rescue workers have arrived in the country, and additional teams are on their way. The situation is most dire in the coastal state of La Guaira, where, according to witnesses, residents in several locations have been searching for their relatives in the rubble with their bare hands due to a lack of equipment and rescue resources.

Authorities reported that thousands of people were injured and many families have found temporary shelter in evacuation centers. Electricity is gradually being restored, but access to the hardest-hit areas remains restricted to allow rescue teams to move freely.

The government has recorded hundreds of people missing or trapped under the rubble. However, the opposition has compiled data on more than 55,000 missing persons. The United States has already pledged $150m in humanitarian aid and is preparing another package of financial support.

(Reuters, Lud)