&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Venezuela twin quakes toll climbs to 589, thousands missing; US temporarily lifts sanctions on Caracas")
Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez said on Friday that the death toll from the devastating earthquakes in the country has risen to 589, while 2,980 people have been injured. She also announced the militarisation of La Guaira, the worst-affected province.
“We are going to rescue the people who are trapped,” she said, adding, “We are working tirelessly on this task.”
Rodríguez said dozens of people have been rescued alive. “It brings us joy that they can embrace their families and loved ones,” she said.
“There have been 214 aftershocks so far. This demonstrates and reflects the seismic activity in our territory,” she said, adding that the worst-hit state of La Guaira will be “militarised” to help the emergency response.
Rodriguez thanked countries for their assistance, saying foreign rescue teams had been deployed across different affected regions.
Trending Stories
)
Earth-Theia collision created the moon in just 5 hours, study shows
)
Nigerian Navy discovers 99,000 litres of suspected stolen, illegally refined products as it intensifies anti-crude oil theft operations
)
Who is Aditi Paudel? 17-year-old becomes Japan's first literacy ambassador
)
Man pushes Russian humanoid robot. Watch what happens next
)
Coast Guard jet carrying DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin makes emergency landing after engine failure
)
Chaos in Ukraine's Kyiv: Zelensky calls shootout between spy services 'absolutely shameful'
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How the Su-30MKI flies up to 8,000 kilometres using mid-air refueling
)
Trump says he’s ‘happy’ Harry and Meghan left US , calls them disrespectful
)
Harry Potter and the Philosophers' Stone: New trailer reveals fresh look at Hogwarts, sorting ceremony and iconic moments to life
)
Pakistan faces growing hunger crisis amid rising food insecurity
)
EU bans Brazilian meat imports over antibiotic violation rules
)
Belgium, latest EU state cautioned by India over arms for Pakistan; gets assurances from Brussels
)
Houthis target Yemen with ballistic missiles, Yemeni army downs several drones
)
The Odyssey star Elliot Page opens up about struggling to land his next acting role after starring in Christopher Nolan film
)
No selfies with God, no reels inside: Tamil Nadu CM bans smartphones in temples | Gravitas
)
Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who shot down Pak fighter jet retires, takes up private job
)
Report: Egypt eyes new Rafale F4 deal amid air force modernisation push
)
Rubio on Modi-Pezeshkian meeting: 'No country should help Iran evade sanctions'
)
High Xylitol levels in blood linked to cardiovascular risk
)
WION Exclusive: Hasina says she reads father’s unfinished memoir while planning Dhaka return
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI uses a giant air brake on its back instead of its wings
)
Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy creates history with 350 not out in South Africa
)
Beginning of the end? More glacial lake outbursts threaten millions in India, Nepal and China
)
India's data centre boom: AI boom fuels $31.6 trillion data race
)
J&K medical interns continue fourth-day protest, demand stipend hike to ₹30,000
)
Pakistanis are eating less. What they are eating instead is even more alarming
)
Nepal floods: 1,204 dead, 4,216 missing as tearful relatives pray for the missing
)
ISRO EOS-05 launch: GSLV to lift heaviest payload in its 25-year flight history
)
EU and NATO step up pressure on Russia after Germany ‘escalation incidents’
)
Husband uses secret camera to record wife’s affair, wins divorce case, ends up in jail for spying
)
At least 2 killed in Minneapolis shooting, suspect also dead
)
Manipur violence: 25 houses torched in Manipur’s Kangpokpi a day after 10 homes were burnt along Imphal-Tamenglong road
)
US Mint releases $1 coins featuring Donald Trump, priced up to $154.50
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the glass canopy on the Su-30MKI has a distinct golden tint
Govt website lists 50,000 as missing
Meanwhile, authorities warned that hundreds of people remain trapped or missing. A government website set up to report missing persons had listed around 50,000 unaccounted-for individuals by Friday morning.
The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck around 160 kilometres west of Caracas on Wednesday evening during a public holiday. The US Geological Survey has estimated that the death toll could exceed 10,000.
Before this disaster, the deadliest earthquake struck Venezuela in 1967, claiming 240 lives.
La Guaira, the coastal region north of Caracas, was the worst affected by Wednesday’s twin earthquakes and has been declared a “disaster zone”, with at least 100 buildings collapsed, including high-rise apartment blocks.
Residents continued searching for survivors with their bare hands and basic tools amid complaints about the lack of heavy rescue equipment.
The UN said international search and rescue teams from at least 17 countries are travelling to Venezuela to help look for survivors.
Foreign aid, support pour for rescue and relief
International rescue teams started arriving late Thursday. The Dominican Republic was the first to deploy personnel to La Guaira, while Mexico sent 250 rescuers, El Salvador 188, Spain nearly 100, and Colombia dispatched a 63-member rescue team. Switzerland and Germany have also sent rescue crews with search dogs and specialised equipment.
The disaster has struck Venezuela, which is already weakened by years of economic crisis, political instability and deteriorating infrastructure.
The United Nations' migration agency estimates that nearly seven million people could be affected and has begun supplying emergency shelters and relief materials.
The Caracas Stock Exchange remained closed after being converted into an aid collection centre.
Despite the widespread destruction, foreign energy companies said operations in Venezuela’s vital oil sector had not suffered major disruptions, with key infrastructure largely spared.
US temporarily lifts sanctions on Venezuela
Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department has temporarily removed sanctions on Venezuela. This will enable the Venezuelan government to make temporary transactions for earthquake relief, which would not be possible otherwise due to economic sanctions in place.
This exemption will be in place until 23 October, said the New York Times report.
Also Read: Amazon CEO meets PM Modi, says e-com giant to invest $48bn in India by 2030, expand AI, cloud infra
The United States announced $150 million in earthquake assistance after temporarily easing sanctions to facilitate humanitarian aid. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would deploy rescue teams, while the Pentagon would help support operations at Caracas’ damaged airport.
