Venezuela is grappling with deep mourning and a severe humanitarian crisis following the severe earthquakes that struck last month. The double earthquake that hit the northern state of La Guaira has been recorded as one of the century's greatest disasters.
Speaker of the Venezuelan Parliament Jorge Rodriguez announced on social media that at least 4,118 people had lost their lives in the earthquakes and 16,740 others were injured. Rodriguez stated that entire neighborhoods in the coastal state of La Guaira had been completely leveled.
Rescue efforts shift to clearing rubble
Although official search and rescue teams have halted efforts to find survivors, many people continue to search through the rubble with their own means to reach the bodies of their loved ones. Aftershocks in the capital Caracas caused panic and led to the evacuation of buildings.
FIFA pledges $1 million in aid
The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) extended a helping hand to help heal the wounds of the disaster. FIFA announced it would allocate $1 million to support emergency humanitarian efforts, assist response teams, and help communities with the recovery process. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, "The Venezuelan people have the full solidarity of the global football family during this extremely difficult time."
UN appeals for $300 million in aid
The United Nations (UN) issued an urgent appeal for approximately $300 million to be raised for aid operations for earthquake victims.
Release of frozen gold requested
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez reiterated the call for the release of frozen assets abroad for the country's reconstruction. Rodriguez stated that she had requested King Charles III to release approximately 30 tons of Venezuelan gold frozen under UK sanctions.
Strongest earthquake of the century
Just 39 seconds after the first 7.2 magnitude earthquake on June 24, the region was shaken by a second 7.5 magnitude tremor. This was the strongest earthquake recorded in Venezuela in more than a century, and it reduced many high-rise buildings to rubble. Particularly in La Guaira, numerous buildings collapsed. According to experts, the chances of rescuing anyone alive from the rubble are extremely low. Teams are now focusing their efforts on debris removal and caring for the disaster victims.
