The death toll in Venezuela has risen to over 1,400, according to Venezuelan politician Jorge Rodríguez in an update earlier today. This as international search teams assist Venezuelan authorities in a race against the clock to locate survivors.
Here’s the latest from Ayanna Carter.
The clock is ticking as rescuers continue the search for survivors after the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck the South American country within one minute of each other, just after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24.
Speaking on state television, Venezuelan politician and President of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez said deaths have increased to 1,430.
Nearly 70,000 people are unaccounted for by their family members, another 3,200 people were injured and 3,100 left homeless by the disaster.
International media reports indicate that family members in La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas, have been using shovels and their bare hands to dig through the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Preliminary figures by the United Nations estimate that the earthquakes caused $6.7 billion in damage, which is equivalent to 6% of Venezuela’s Gross Domestic Product.
The United States is among several countries, including Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador and Cuba, extending search and rescue support for the earthquake-stricken country.