Venezuela earthquake: Death toll nears 1,500 as residents angered at local officials' response
As Venezuela continues to grapple with the destruction two earthquakes have left behind in the past couple of days, another earthquake of magnitude 5.6 hit
As Venezuela continues to grapple with the destruction two earthquakes have left behind in the past couple of days, another earthquake of magnitude 5.6 hit the South American country in the early hours of Sunday. The twin earthquakes that occurred in quick succession have resulted in the death of around 1,500 individuals. US Department of State's Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said, "By bringing international disaster response programs under the State Department, the US government is able to respond more rapidly and more effectively to disasters. After the earthquakes in Venezuela, the U.S. immediately mobilized, activating urban search and rescue teams and the delivery of humanitarian and medical supplies." Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What were the impacts of the recent earthquakes in Venezuela? ⌵ The recent earthquakes in Venezuela resulted in a death toll nearing 1,500 and over 51,000 people reported missing, along with significant physical damage estimated at $6.7 billion. 2 Why are residents frustrated with the government's response to the earthquake disaster? ⌵ Residents are frustrated due to perceived disorganization and a slow response from government officials, leaving many to rely on volunteers and neighbors for search and rescue efforts.
3 How are international rescue efforts being coordinated in Venezuela after the earthquakes? ⌵ International rescue efforts are being coordinated with teams from at least 17 countries mobilizing to assist Venezuelan authorities, including specialized urban search-and-rescue teams provided by the United States. 4 What measures are authorities taking to improve the rescue operations in the affected areas? ⌵ Authorities have restricted access to heavily affected areas like La Guaira, requiring special permits for entry, while deploying over 14,000 military and police personnel to assist in rescue operations. 5 Should families affected by the earthquake seek assistance from international organizations? ⌵ Yes, families are encouraged to seek assistance from international organizations as agencies estimate that up to 6.76 million people could require emergency help, including shelters and essential supplies. Residents complaint of lack of organisation Venezuelans have been complaining of a lack of organisation in the government's recovery efforts, as mobile and internet outages in several parts of the country made the situation worse. Facing public outrage at the response by local officials, Venezuela's US-backed interim leader Delcy Rodriguez thanked other countries for the outpouring of aid.
The BriefWire