Venezuela Earthquake Toll Climbs to 920: Thousands Injured and Over 50,000 Unaccounted For

The death toll from the twin powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last Wednesday has risen to 920, according to the latest official data released by government authorities. The natural disaster has also left 3,360 people injured. Emergency response teams fear that at least 172 individuals remain trapped beneath collapsed structures, while more than 3,000 people have been displaced from their homes. Furthermore, according to a missing persons tracking website, the status of over 50,000 people remained unknown as of Friday noon. In terms of infrastructural damage, a total of 383 buildings have been affected, including 13 hospitals and 25 commercial centers. More than 870 international rescue workers are currently deployed across Venezuela to support relief and recovery operations. To streamline emergency response and relief distribution, a volunteer registration center has been established in the capital city of Caracas, where registered volunteers are being deployed to various sectors based on their skills and capacity. Meanwhile, the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reported a 4.7-magnitude aftershock off the northern coast of Venezuela on Friday. Ongoing aftershocks continue to complicate the hazardous search and rescue efforts. The Chinese Embassy in Venezuela has also confirmed that at least seven Chinese nationals are among those who lost their lives in the catastrophic event. Authorities are accelerating search efforts while continuing to compile further casualty and damage reports.