This Monday (29), a new earthquake of magnitude 4.6 was recorded in Venezuela. According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicenter occurred in Caraballeda, on the north coast of the country, about 30 kilometers from Caracas, at 7 am local time.
The president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez, reported that “no damage was immediately reported as a result of the aftershock in Venezuela.” Since the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes recorded on Wednesday (24), the country has once again recorded new tremors. A tremor of similar magnitude occurred on Friday (26) and others of magnitudes 4.2 and 4.5 were recorded on Sunday (28).
Rescue teams continue to work through the rubble in an attempt to locate survivors. The government reported that 33 people were evacuated alive on Sunday. The operations are carried out manually at various points and face difficulties caused by the heat and the advancing decomposition of the bodies.
According to a bulletin released by the National Assembly of Venezuela, the number of deaths increased from 1,430 to 1,450 between Saturday (27) and Sunday. “In today’s bulletin, we inform you that the death toll reached 1,450 people, women and men who lost their lives as a result of the most brutal natural disaster our country has ever suffered,” declared Rodríguez. The balance also points to 3,150 injuries and 12,721 families affected by the earthquakes.
Authorities reported that 774 buildings suffered damage or collapsed. Of this total, 189 were completely destroyed and 585 had partial damage. 38 hospitals, 44 shopping centers and another 1,645 structures were also affected. According to the government, 527 patients were transferred from hospitals in La Guaira to health units in Caracas due to pressure on the region’s hospital system.
The United Nations (UN) estimates that up to 6.8 million people were affected by the earthquakes. The risk of further damage remains due to the aftershocks recorded since last Wednesday.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez ordered the continuation of search and rescue operations and stated that the work will not be interrupted as long as it is possible to locate survivors. The government also reported that medical care and donation reception centers remain open to serve victims and families.
The Venezuelan government also announced the creation of a commission responsible for evaluating the conditions of housing and other structures affected. A group was also created to organize temporary shelters for families who lost their homes and coordinate the reconstruction of affected areas.
Humanitarian aid
Faced with the tragedy, Brazil sent, on Sunday (28), a fourth plane with humanitarian aid to reinforce rescue operations in the country. The aircraft departed Guarulhos International Airport with 35 firefighters from São Paulo and Minas Gerais bound for La Guaira, the region most affected by the earthquakes. According to Itamaraty, two Brazilians are among the victims.
The Brazilian humanitarian mission began on Saturday (27), shortly after arriving in Venezuela. The teams operate mainly in the municipality of Vargas, in the state of La Guaira. According to the Brazilian government, despite the logistical difficulties of the operation, the team, coordinated by the director of Preparedness and Relief of the National Civil Defense, Armin Braun, rescued at least two people alive and worked to rescue a child from under the rubble.
The first Brazilian mission was sent on Friday (26) from Guarulhos Air Base, in São Paulo. The operation involved 44 professionals from the Fire Departments of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Paraná, as well as members of the National Secretariat for Civil Protection and Defense and technicians from the National Telecommunications Agency. The aircraft also carried six sniffer dogs and equipment intended for search and rescue operations.
In addition to sending the fourth plane with humanitarian aid, the Brazilian government transported 13 Brazilians who were in Venezuela and sought the Brazilian Embassy in Caracas after the closure of the capital’s commercial airport. They were taken on a Brazilian Air Force aircraft that was returning to Brazil after delivering humanitarian aid. “The transport was carried out using the aircraft that took humanitarian aid to the neighboring country and returned empty to Brazil”, informed the Itamaraty.
The Brazilian mission is coordinated by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency, linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Brazil has already sent four support flights with search and rescue teams, a field hospital, water purifiers, medicines and military firefighters who work mainly in La Guaira.
According to Jorge Rodríguez, around 2,624 international rescuers work in Venezuela with the support of 137 rescue dogs, 49 vehicles and 84.8 tons of equipment, medicines and surgical supplies. Approximately 30 countries sent teams to assist with operations. Delegations from India, Costa Rica, Vietnam, Cuba and the Dominican Republic arrived in the country to reinforce the search. Paraguay also announced the sending of 32 military personnel specialized in rescue operations.
How to help?
The Consulate General of Venezuela in São Paulo (SP) started a campaign to receive donations intended exclusively for relief teams and volunteers working in areas affected by the emergency in the country.
At this stage, protective helmets, flashlights, protective gloves, protective glasses, rubber boots and tents are being collected. The consulate informed that donations of water, medicine, clothing, food or money will not be accepted.
Donations can be delivered to the headquarters of the Venezuelan Consulate, located at Rua Teixeira da Silva, 660, in the Paraíso neighborhood, in the capital of São Paulo. Information about the campaign can be requested by email [email protected]. The consulate also requests support in publicizing the initiative to increase the collection of equipment for teams working in emergency areas.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
