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Venezuela: Critical Hours for Rescue Teams After Devastating Earthquakes; La Guaira Under Military Control
🇩🇪 Germany /Disasters & Emergencies

Venezuela: Critical Hours for Rescue Teams After Devastating Earthquakes; La Guaira Under Military Control

From Der Spiegel · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Venezuela is in critical hours for the search of survivors following devastating earthquakes.
  • The government has placed the state of La Guaira under military control to aid rescue efforts.
  • At least 920 people have died and over 3,000 have been injured, with experts warning of decreasing survival chances after 72 hours.

Venezuela faces critical hours in its search for survivors after powerful earthquakes struck the nation. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez described the current period as vital for rescue operations, as teams race against time to find those trapped beneath rubble.

These are critical hours for the rescue of lives.

— Delcy RodríguezDescribing the urgency of the search for earthquake survivors.

The government has taken drastic measures, placing the northern state of La Guaira under military control and blocking access roads. This move aims to maintain public order and facilitate the work of rescue teams, while also preventing unnecessary travel to the affected region. Registered volunteers are permitted entry, but the stringent control highlights the gravity of the situation.

Get out, get out!

— ResidentsShouting at Interim President Delcy Rodríguez during a visit to an earthquake-affected area in Caracas.

Tragically, the earthquakes have claimed at least 920 lives, with over 3,000 individuals injured. The destruction is widespread, with more than 1,400 buildings, including homes and hospitals, severely damaged or completely destroyed. Experts emphasize that survival chances diminish significantly after 72 hours, intensifying the urgency of the ongoing rescue efforts.

Enough now, campaigning in the midst of a tragedy like the one we are experiencing.

— ResidentsAccusing the government of using the disaster for political gain.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Der Spiegel in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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