Venezuela Quake Death Toll Rises to 920 as UN Reports Over 50,000 Missing

DID Press: The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to 920, while the United Nations says more than 50,000 people are missing as search and rescue operations continue.

Venezuelan authorities said on Friday that the number of fatalities from the twin earthquakes that hit parts of the country on Wednesday has increased as recovery teams continue clearing debris and searching affected areas. More than 3,000 people have also been reported injured.

The United Nations, in its preliminary assessment, estimated that over 50,000 people remain missing. Tom Fletcher described the situation as “highly complex,” warning of an enormous challenge ahead in search operations through rubble and devastated area.

The hardest-hit area is reported to be La Guaira, north of Caracas, where significant damage has also been recorded at Maiquetía International Airport, which has been forced to suspend operations.

Meanwhile, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reported a new 4.9-magnitude aftershock off Venezuela’s northern coast, raising concerns that continued seismic activity could worsen the humanitarian situation and further complicate rescue efforts.

Authorities and aid agencies continue emergency operations as fears grow that the full scale of the disaster may still not be known.