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Nearly 7 million people may be affected by Venezuela quakes, UN estimates

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Nearly 6.8 million people may be affected by twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.
  • The quakes have killed nearly 1,000 people, with over 50,000 reported missing.
  • The UN migration agency is deploying relief supplies and working with the government to provide aid.

Close to seven million people may have been impacted by the twin earthquakes that devastated Venezuela on June 24, the United Nations estimated Saturday. The UN migration agency reported that up to 6.76 million people could be affected by the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 tremors.

up to 6.76 million people could be affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24th June

— International Organisation for MigrationThe UN migration agency provided an estimate of the potential impact of the earthquakes.

The disaster has claimed nearly 1,000 lives, with over 50,000 people still missing and trapped under rubble, particularly in the coastal city of La Guaira. Entire buildings have crumbled in La Guaira, located north of Caracas. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) warned that the projections "highlight the potentially vast humanitarian impact of the disaster."

The projections, which include up to two million people in Caracas alone, “highlight the potentially vast humanitarian impact of the disaster”.

— International Organisation for MigrationThe IOM warned about the scale of the humanitarian crisis following the earthquakes.

Initial assessments, including satellite mapping analysis conducted with Microsoft AI for Good Lab, show significant building damage, with 31.5 percent of structures affected in Catia La Mar. These assessments are crucial for humanitarian responders to identify the most impacted communities and prioritize aid delivery.

The first hours and days after a disaster are decisive. They shape everything that follows.

— Amy PopeIOM chief Amy Pope emphasized the critical nature of the immediate response phase.

"The first hours and days after a disaster are decisive. They shape everything that follows," said IOM chief Amy Pope. The agency is scaling up its response, deploying prepositioned relief items and working with the Venezuelan government and partners to deliver emergency shelter, essential supplies, and protection. Pope stressed the urgency of the response, noting that Venezuela was already facing a humanitarian crisis before the earthquakes.

IOM is scaling up rapidly: prepositioned relief items are already being deployed, and we are working with the Government and partners to deliver emergency shelter, essential supplies, and protection.

— Amy PopeIOM chief Amy Pope detailed the agency's immediate response efforts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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