The death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to more than 900, with thousands more injured as rescue teams race against time to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
Government officials said on Friday that at least 920 people have been confirmed dead, while 3,360 others have sustained injuries. Hundreds remain missing, raising fears that the number of fatalities could increase significantly in the coming days.
The powerful earthquakes, which struck within seconds of each other on Wednesday, caused widespread destruction across northern Venezuela, including the capital, Caracas. The second tremor, measuring 7.5 in magnitude, is among the strongest recorded in the country in more than a century.
Emergency responders continue to search through mountains of debris as families anxiously await news of loved ones. Authorities said at least 172 people are still believed to be trapped beneath collapsed structures.
Hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of casualties have been forced to establish makeshift treatment centres to care for the injured after dozens of residential and commercial buildings were reduced to rubble.
International support has continued to grow, with a senior government official confirming that hundreds of foreign rescue personnel have already arrived in Venezuela, while additional emergency teams are expected in the coming days to reinforce search-and-rescue operations.
Among those desperately awaiting news is Natacha Diaz, whose two daughters, aged 22 and 23, were working as manicurists inside a shopping centre in the coastal city of La Guaira when the building collapsed.
“They were with their friends,” Diaz told the BBC. “I just want them to be found. I have faith and hope that they are there.”
Fighting back tears, she added: “I just want them back with me. They are all I have, please.”
Speaking during a state television broadcast, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez confirmed the latest casualty figures and said rescue workers remained focused on reaching those still trapped beneath the debris.
