Venezuela earthquakes: death toll rises again to more than 1,400

The death toll in the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela earlier this week has risen to 1,430, Jorge Rodríguez said. Another 3,200 people were injured and 3,100 left homeless, the National Assembly president added on state television. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes hit within a minute on Wednesday evening, flattening buildings in the north, and rescuers are still searching for survivors.

At least 68,900 people have been reported unaccounted for by their families. In La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas, civilians are using shovels and their bare hands to dig through rubble, while Venezuelan soldiers unload aid from helicopters. Access to affected zones has been restricted and special permits are required to enter, the acting president Delcy Rodríguez said, adding more than 14,000 military and police are patrolling the area.

The UN estimated the quakes caused $6.7bn in damage, equivalent to 6% of Venezuela’s GDP.

Venezuela, La Guaira

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