Caracas : Venezuela continues to battle the devastating aftermath of last week’s twin earthquakes, with the death toll climbing to 1,943 and more than 10,000 people injured, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez announced on Tuesday.
The Venezuelan government has declared a state of emergency in the worst-affected regions and launched large-scale relief and rehabilitation operations. Armed forces have been deployed to assist rescue efforts, while temporary shelters have been established for displaced families. Medical teams are also providing emergency treatment to thousands of injured survivors.
Even as rescue operations continue, a 4.2-magnitude aftershock struck near Caracas and the coastal city of La Guaira on Monday morning, triggering fresh panic among residents already traumatized by the powerful earthquakes that hit the country last week.
According to the Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research, the latest tremor originated in the Caribbean Sea, about 10 kilometres off the coast of La Guaira state, the region that bore the brunt of Wednesday’s devastating 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes. The aftershock occurred at around 9:30 a.m. local time.
The tremor prompted residents in Caracas and La Guaira to rush out of homes, offices and commercial buildings as structures shook. Hundreds gathered in parks, public squares and other open spaces, fearing additional aftershocks and possible building collapses.
“We are terrified. We have not slept properly since Wednesday. Every tremor makes us run out,” La Guaira resident Maria Lopez told local media.
Authorities, however, confirmed that the latest aftershock did not cause any additional casualties or structural damage.
“We have no reports of additional damage anywhere in the national territory,” Jorge Rodriguez said, urging citizens to remain calm, avoid panic and follow official safety advisories.
Emergency teams remain engaged in search-and-rescue operations across several affected areas, racing against time to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings. Officials said that hundreds of structures have either been destroyed or sustained severe damage, leaving thousands homeless.
The government has appealed to residents to stay away from damaged buildings and cooperate with emergency responders. Authorities have also activated emergency helplines and advised people living in coastal areas to move to higher ground as a precaution against any possible tsunami threat.
Relief and rehabilitation efforts are continuing as Venezuela faces one of the deadliest natural disasters in its recent history.
