Death Toll from Powerful Earthquakes in Venezuela Rises to 235

The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday has climbed to 235, the country's health ministry reported, citing figures from the AFP news agency. As of the latest update, there were no new figures released regarding the number of people injured or missing.

Earlier reports indicated a lower toll. On Thursday evening, the president of Venezuela's National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, stated that the death toll had reached 188, with 1,500 people injured. Officials anticipate that the number of fatalities will continue to rise significantly in the coming days as rescue and recovery efforts proceed.

The earthquakes, measured at magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 respectively, are considered the strongest and most violent to hit the country in over 125 years. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has provided a grim assessment, estimating that the actual number of deaths could range from 10,000 to as high as 100,000 people.