Deaths from earthquakes in Venezuela exceed 5 thousand

The number of deaths resulting from the earthquakes that hit Venezuela on June 24 rose to 5,069, according to a report released this Friday (17) by Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly. Official data also records 16,740 injured, 6,462 people rescued and 17,907 people remaining homeless.

According to the survey, 128,324 families have received assistance since the beginning of the emergency. Currently, 21,235 people are sheltered in 107 transitional camps. The government also counts 856 affected buildings, of which 190 collapsed, in addition to the distribution of 10,063 tons of food and 29.5 million liters of water to the affected regions.

Earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 hit the north-central region of Venezuela on June 24, causing destruction mainly in the states of La Guaira, Miranda and the metropolitan region of Caracas. Since then, rescue teams, health professionals, military personnel and volunteers have been involved in search operations, caring for victims and rebuilding the affected areas.

In recent days, the Venezuelan government has also put into operation the Single Dwelling Registry, aimed at families who have lost their homes. According to Jorge Rodríguez, the objective is to consolidate a detailed survey of those affected to guarantee permanent housing solutions and provide transparency to the resettlement process.

In addition to the registration, the government maintains the reconstruction plan for the affected areas and reported that it will continue to provide housing for homeless families, in addition to reinforcing social, medical and food assistance in the affected regions.

Earthquake and tsunami warning in Mexico

While Venezuela is still facing the consequences of the June earthquakes, other countries in the region recorded new extreme events this Friday. A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, near the border with Guatemala. The tremor was also felt in cities in Guatemala and El Salvador and led authorities to activate emergency protocols and issue a tsunami warning for areas of the Pacific.

The epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 58 kilometers from Puerto Madero, in Chiapas, at a depth of approximately 15 kilometers. After the earthquake, aftershocks of magnitudes between 5 and 6 were recorded, while Civil Defense teams began inspections in urban and coastal areas. Until the last update from Mexican and Guatemalan authorities, there were no reports of deaths or major damage, and the tsunami warning was later downgraded due to the absence of significant waves.

In Chile, strong storms caused by a frontal system left thousands of people dead, without electricity and caused flooding and disruption in different regions of the country. Chilean authorities remain alert for intense rain and the risk of new landslides.