The number of victims of the powerful earthquakes in Venezuela continues to rise. According to the latest data, at least 188 people have died, and over 1,500 have been injured. About 200 people remain trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings, and thousands are considered missing, reports UNN.
Details
The updated data was announced by the President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez. According to him, rescue operations are ongoing, so the death toll may rise. The coastal area of La Guaira, north of Caracas, suffered the most destruction.
The strongest earthquake in over 130 years
On Wednesday, two powerful earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 occurred almost simultaneously off the coast of the country. According to experts, this is the strongest earthquake in Venezuela in over 130 years. The disaster caused massive destruction of residential buildings, transport, and critical infrastructure.
Researcher at the Institute of Seismology at the University of Helsinki, Päivi Mäntyniemi, noted that earthquakes in this area are not unexpected due to the fault between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, but such powerful tremors are rare.
Experts compare the disaster to the earthquake in Haiti
According to Mäntyniemi, the release of a large amount of energy in a densely populated area with weak building stock led to catastrophic consequences. She compared the current tragedy to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, when strong tremors near the capital caused a sharp increase in the number of casualties.
Rescuers continue the search and rescue operation and are clearing building rubble. Authorities warn that the final number of dead and injured may increase, as people may still be trapped under the debris.