Jorge Rodríguez Reports Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Rises To 2,295

More than 1,700 people have died since last week’s devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, and CNN reported it was on the ground in La Guaira and Caracas as teams dug through rubble in frantic rescue efforts.

CNN said a baby just 18 days old was rescued after spending more than 30 hours trapped beneath a collapsed building in the La Guaira area, and the baby’s mother was rescued minutes later.

A News

Venezuelan Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez later reported that the death toll had risen to 2,295, with 11,267 injured and 12,841 affected individuals, in an update broadcast by Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).

EFE reported that Rodríguez said, "As of today, 2,295 people are dead, and 11,267 are injured," and said the government was accounting for 12,841 affected individuals.

The official figures also included aftershocks, with EFE stating Rodríguez noted 782 aftershocks had been recorded since the double earthquake, while clarifying their frequency and intensity had decreased over the past two days.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado accused the government of trying to keep Venezuelans in the dark about the scale of the emergency, and CNN said she accused authorities of blocking information about the quakes and restricting communications.

Machado told CNN, "We will hold the owners fully accountable,"? no—CNN quoted her saying, "On June 24, my return to Venezuela became unavoidable so we could be together during this catastrophe, as a family does," and said she was currently in Panama City.

ABC News

CiberCuba, citing a government appearance transmitted by Venezolana de Televisión, reported that Jorge Rodríguez said the official death toll had reached 2,295, with 11,267 injured and 12,841 affected individuals.

CiberCuba also said Rodríguez declared, "La esperanza se mantiene intacta y insistiremos en seguir buscando a personas que estén con vida entre los escombros," as rescue efforts continued.

While CNN described rescue teams digging in La Guaira and Caracas, EFE said the government set up 25 temporary camps for those affected, including 13 in La Guaira and eight in Caracas.

As the rescue operation continued, ABC News said nearly 50,000 people remained unaccounted for after the June 24 earthquakes, while the death toll climbed to at least 2,295 and injuries reached 11,267.

“Venezuela earthquakes latest: Nearly 50,000 unaccounted for as death toll climbs At least 2,295 have died as a result of last week's earthquakes, officials said”

ABC News

ABC News reported that the International Rescue Committee said children were among the nearly 50,000 people still missing, and it said searchers were combing through rubble with bare hands to find survivors.

The humanitarian and health risks were also highlighted by WMNF 88.5 FM, which quoted doctors warning that infections were becoming the greatest threat to survivors, with Dr. Eugenio Cova telling the Associated Press that hospitals were treating patients whose injuries had become increasingly complicated by infection.

WMNF 88.5 FM also reported that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and California Attorney General Rob Bonta urged donors to verify charities and crowdfunding campaigns before contributing, warning about earthquake relief scams.

Looking ahead, EFE said Rodríguez reported the government had recorded 782 aftershocks and was moving people into temporary camps, while CNN said officials were hoping a surge of foreign aid and responders would bolster emergency workers and help address humanitarian needs.