Caracas: The death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela earlier this week has risen to 920, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said on Friday.
In a televised address, Rodriguez said the number of casualties increased as rescue teams reached more affected areas. At least 2,980 people have been injured, while thousands more remain unaccounted for.
A website set up to track missing persons has listed nearly 50,000 people as missing, though the figure has not been independently verified.
The earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck less than a minute apart on Wednesday evening, according to the US Geological Survey. The epicentre was near the coastal town of Moron, around 160 km west of Caracas.
The USGS described the event as a seismic “doublet”, a rare occurrence where two major earthquakes happen within seconds in the same region. Early modelling by the agency has estimated that the final death toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000.
The coastal state of La Guaira, located north of Caracas, has been the worst-hit region. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared it a disaster zone, saying dozens of buildings collapsed and major infrastructure was severely damaged.
At least 346 buildings have been damaged or destroyed, including eight hospitals and the headquarters of the Venezuelan Red Cross. The Simon Bolivar International Airport, which serves Caracas, has also been closed due to structural damage.
International rescue teams from countries including the United States, Mexico, Spain and El Salvador have arrived to support relief operations. The US Treasury Department has temporarily eased sanctions to help facilitate aid deliveries.
Acting President Rodriguez thanked the international community for its assistance, while authorities warned that the death toll could rise further as rescuers continue searching through collapsed structures.
With IANS inputs