Machado accuses Venezuela of blocking entry after earthquakes

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado has accused the country's government of preventing her return from exile in Panama, following two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week. Machado, currently in Panama, stated on the social media platform X that the regime has closed the nation's airspace in an attempt to bar her entry.

"I want to return to Venezuela to be with you in these heartbreaking hours," Machado declared. She further accused the Venezuelan government of obstructing the entry of foreign rescue workers, alleging they are stranded at airports. As of Monday, the Venezuelan government had not issued any immediate comment on Machado's accusations.

The death toll from the earthquakes, which struck near the capital Caracas, has surpassed 1,700 people, according to Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly. The tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, were the strongest to hit Venezuela since 1900. While survivors have been rescued from rubble in recent days, the chances of finding more diminish as time passes.

Frustration is mounting in several affected areas due to a perceived lack of assistance from authorities. Residents in the mountainous El Junquito region, west of Caracas, report seeing few government representatives. In the absence of official aid, local farmers and other residents have stepped in to provide essential supplies.

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Regimet har lukket landets luftrum i et forsøg på at forhindre mig i at gøre det.