DistantNews
Support us
🇹🇼 Taiwan /Disasters & Emergencies

Venezuela Quake: 70,000 Missing After 72-Hour Rescue Window Closes

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Venezuela's northern coast was hit by two strong earthquakes, resulting in 1,430 deaths and 3,228 injuries.
  • Nearly 70,000 people remain missing, with rescue efforts hampered by collapsed buildings and difficult terrain.
  • Preliminary economic damage is estimated at $6.7 billion, with satellite images showing widespread destruction in coastal towns.

Nearly 70,000 people are missing in Venezuela following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country's northern coast, with the death toll rising to 1,430 and injuries reaching 3,228. The critical 72-hour rescue window has passed, complicating efforts to find survivors.

Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela's National Assembly, reported the grim figures on February 27. International rescue teams from 24 countries, totaling 2,741 personnel, are on the ground in the hardest-hit coastal areas, continuing the search amidst challenging conditions. Mexican rescue workers described the situation as "very difficult" due to the height of damaged buildings and the sheer number of structures to search.

The death toll has reached 1,430 people, with 3,228 injured.

— Jorge RodríguezPresident of Venezuela's National Assembly, providing an update on the earthquake's casualties.

Rescuers are struggling to find survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings. The preliminary economic impact of the disaster is estimated to be as high as $6.7 billion. Satellite imagery starkly illustrates the devastation in the coastal town of Catia La Mar, where numerous buildings have been reduced to ruins.

the ground situation is 'very difficult' due to the height of damaged buildings and the large number of buildings to search.

— Mexican rescue team memberDescribing the challenges faced by rescue workers in collapsed urban areas.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog