The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rattled Venezuela on Wednesday has climbed to 1,430, while more than 51,000 remain missing in the aftermath of the disaster. The twin quakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck in quick succession and devastated the country’s coastal region of La Guaira.
Authorities restricted access to the area on Friday night as traffic chaos hampered search-and-rescue operations. With rescuers battling resource and manpower shortages, aid agencies have warned that the critical 72-hour survival window is closing fast.
Authorities have said that anyone who wants to enter the area will now require a permit, since the devastated buildings pose a risk to all.
According to survivors, only a handful of people are seen clearing the rubble in the hardest-hit areas, despite the interim government projecting a large-scale and massive rescue operation in the area.
"Each person saved is a miracle,” said Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly. “We are not going to hide absolutely anything about the magnitude of this tragedy.”
Rodriguez said La Guaira had been “militarised” and more help was on the way, even as residents said it was just a fraction of what they needed.
On Saturday, the United Nations Development Programme estimated the direct physical damage of the quakes could cost between $4.7 billion and $8.7 billion.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, another quake measuring 5.6 rattled the country four days after the two major ones hit and a day after a third quake measuring 4.8 struck on Saturday.
Besides, earthquakes with moderate intensity have hit several Asian countries, including Japan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, while tremors from the quakes were felt across major north Indian states.
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