SÃO PAULO, SP (FOLHAPRESS) - Nine days after the twin earthquakes that devastated regions in Venezuela, the country's regime reported this Friday (3) that the number of confirmed deaths as a result of the earthquakes had increased to 2,645. According to authorities, more than 12 thousand people were injured, and thousands more were displaced.
The number of confirmed deaths in earthquakes in Venezuela rises to 2,645
SÃO PAULO, SP (FOLHAPRESS) - Nine days after the twin earthquakes that devastated regions in Venezuela, the country's regime reported this Friday (3) that the number of confirmed deaths as a result of the earthquakes...
The day before, the country's interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, stated that 2,595 deaths had been recorded. The new survey, therefore, records an increase of 50 confirmed deaths in one day.
Some Venezuelans criticize the regime's response, considered slow and insufficient. Delcy, in turn, has been defending the actions of the authorities and states that search and rescue operations are still ongoing. She refuted criticism of the response to the catastrophe and accused, without providing evidence, "media laboratories" of trying to hinder the work of emergency teams.
More than a week after the earthquakes, there is still hope for the rescue of survivors. On Thursday (2), Hernán Gil, 43, was removed from the rubble by national and international rescue teams. He was a security guard at the commercial building and was trapped in the rubble of the guardhouse in the La Guaira region. This Friday, there was no news related to the rescue of people alive.
The most affected state is La Guaira, close to the capital Caracas, where efforts to rescue survivors and remove bodies have been concentrated. Local teams and teams from various countries participate in the searches.
On Monday (29), the UN humanitarian coordinator in Venezuela said that the organization was purchasing 10,000 bags for storing bodies, which indicates that the number of deaths is expected to increase.
Given the scale of the tragedy, the UN World Food Program asked the international community for US$50 million (R$260 million) to provide assistance to around 500,000 people over the next three months.
The earthquakes worsened an already severe humanitarian crisis. Before the disaster, the UN estimated that almost 8 million Venezuelans were in need of some type of humanitarian aid.
In addition to the urgent need for food and shelter, concern is growing about the risk of epidemics. The World Health Organization has warned of "extreme pressure" on the Venezuelan health system and the possibility of outbreaks of viral and infectious diseases.
According to the UN, 27 countries sent specialized teams and sniffer dogs to help search for survivors among the rubble. The organization also estimates that the damage caused by the earthquakes will reach US$6.7 billion (around R$34.8 billion), equivalent to 6% of Venezuela's GDP.
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Source: Noticias ao Minuto - Mundo
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