Death toll after earthquake in Venezuela! Death toll nears 1,500, search for life under debris continues

New Delhi:Even several days after the massive earthquake in Venezuela, the scene of devastation has not ended. Relief and rescue teams are working continuously day and night to save the people buried under the debris. Hope is diminishing with each passing hour, but every now and then the news of someone being found alive is bringing new hope to the rescue workers and families. At the same time, the number of dead has continuously increased to around 1,500.

Two powerful earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that occurred on June 24 most affected La Guaira state of Venezuela. Many multi-storey buildings completely collapsed in this area, located about 40 kilometers from the capital Caracas. Thousands of people are still reported missing and considering the situation, rescue teams from many countries are also engaged in relief work.

Relief operations continue

Acting President Delsey Rodriguez said the government has not taken any decision to stop the rescue operation. He said that even on Sunday, some people were pulled out alive from the debris, so the search operation will continue with full force. He also announced that a special presidential commission would be formed to investigate the safety of the damaged buildings. This commission will decide which buildings are habitable and which will have to be completely vacated.

Schools closed, electricity system gradually normalising.

The government informed that it has been decided to keep schools closed for one more week in the affected areas. At the same time, about 75 percent power supply has been restored in La Guaira. The administration says that efforts are being made to normalize services in other areas also soon. Initially the government praised the volunteers delivering relief material, but later traffic on many roads was limited to accommodate the huge crowd and smooth movement of emergency vehicles.

The number of dead and injured increased

National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said that the death toll had increased further on Sunday. So far, the deaths of about 1,450 people have been confirmed. Apart from this, 3,150 people have been injured, 12,721 people have been forced to leave their homes and 774 buildings have completely collapsed. He said that the biggest challenge at this time is to save the lives of the people and to prepare temporary camps for the homeless families, so that they can get a safe shelter.

hope diminishing with time

For the first few days after the earthquake, local people and volunteers were busy removing debris with limited resources. Later, more than 2,600 foreign rescue workers also joined the relief work. The rescue operation has become more challenging due to the continuous aftershocks. According to the government, by Saturday evening, 33 people had been evacuated safely, including many children. However, thousands of people are still missing and there is a difference between the claims of the government and the opposition regarding their actual figures.

Concern increased after 72 hours

Experts say that the first 72 hours after any major earthquake are the most important. After this, the chances of finding people buried under the debris alive start decreasing rapidly. Sebastian Ugster, head of the Swiss rescue team, said his team located many people with the help of trained sniffer dogs, but it was not possible to reach some victims in time. The US Geological Survey estimates that the death toll in this disaster could exceed 10 thousand, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in Latin America.

Success in evacuating children safely

Many emotional rescue operations also came to light during the relief operation. The American rescue team safely pulled out a small child from the debris, the video of which was also shared. The team from Colombia pulled out an 11-year-old boy named Moises alive from a depth of about three meters. His arm was broken, while his mother and sister died in this accident. Similarly, the Mexican rescue team also succeeded in safely removing another 11-year-old child from the debris.

International aid and new challenges

Pope Leo expressed condolences from Rome to the people of Venezuela and thanked the rescue workers engaged in relief work. Apart from the already announced assistance amount, preparations are being made by America to provide additional financial assistance. Meanwhile, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has expressed her desire to return to Venezuela, although different reactions are emerging regarding her return. On the other hand, due to power crisis in Western Falcon state, the operation of the country’s largest Amua oil refinery has also had to be stopped.