A new earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale has shaken the northern coast of Venezuela on Friday night, days after major successive quakes devastated the country.
The tremors on Friday came after two earlier quakes that killed 920 people and left large parts of the capital Caracas in ruins.
The earthquake tracking organisation, EMSC, said in a social media post that the latest quake took place 61 kilometres (36 miles) northwest of Maracay in northern Venezuela.
The Latin American nation is still struggling in the aftermath of two of the deadliest quakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale.
Authorities expect the death toll to climb sharply in the coming days, while the US Geological Survey estimates it could cross 10,000.
As many as 4,360 people have been reported injured, and more than 172 people remain trapped beneath the rubble.
The number of missing people has surpassed 50,000, according to the Venezuelan government.
On Friday, the country’s interior minister said there would be limited access to some of the worst-hit areas by the earthquakes in the state of La Guaira.
Residents have been organising to collect supplies and search for survivors, with some people using their vehicles as improvised ambulances.
The Venezuelan government has loosened restrictions on social media platforms like X, which were blocked in the wake of the disputed 2024 presidential election.
The international community, charities, and aid organisations have rushed to Venezuela for immediate help to support ongoing rescue and relief operations.
Also read: Death toll rises to 235 in Venezuela earthquakes, 4,300 injured
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