Jorge Rodríguez Says Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Reaches 1,719 as La Guaira Rescue Fades

Powerful twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on 24 June, and by Monday the death toll had reached 1,719 people, according to Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez.

CNN said more than 1,700 people have died since last week’s devastating earthquakes, with teams digging through rubble in La Guaira and Caracas as aftershocks reignite fears.

A News

NBC News reported that a critical 72-hour window for rescuing people trapped beneath collapsed buildings has now passed, even as a father and his son were pulled out alive after four days.

UN News said Venezuelan authorities confirmed on Monday that at least 1,719 people have died following the earthquakes of 24 June, with some 5,000 more injured.

In La Guaira, CNN described a baby just 18 days old that had spent more than 30 hours trapped beneath a collapsed building, and said the baby’s mother was rescued minutes later.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado accused Venezuela’s government of trying to keep Venezuelans in the dark about the scale of the emergency, and CNN quoted her saying, "authorities were trying to keep Venezuelans in the dark about the scale of the emergency."

NBC News said criticism over the government’s emergency response and limited access to heavy equipment in the hardest-hit state La Guaira continues to grow.

ABC News

In a televised address Sunday, NBC News reported Rodríguez said, "We are in critical hours, in crucial hours to continue rescuing lives" as search and rescue operations continued.

UN News reported that UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Venezuela Gianluca Rampolla said seven people were pulled alive from the rubble on Sunday as search efforts continued.

NBC News also quoted interim President Delcy Rodríguez saying, "Therefore, the rescue operations will not be suspended," after 33 people had been found over the weekend.

UN News warned that recovery "is going to take time" as it said the death toll continues to climb along with the intense rescue operation and the UN coordinates humanitarian assistance.

UN News said the UN and Venezuelan authorities agreed to procure 10,000 body bags in anticipation of the death toll rising further, and it reported around 2,500 structures were damaged, many of which had collapsed entirely.

Euronews reported that the death toll from two devastating earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela last week has risen to 1,943, and it said a further 10,571 people have been injured and 28,380 are receiving care in hospitals or temporary camps.

CBC News said the government of acting President Delcy Rodriguez says at least 1,943 people have died and thousands have been injured, and it reported that about 16,000 people were left homeless.

NBC News said some 5,000 people were also injured and more than 15,000 people displaced, while UN News said around 12,000 people have been displaced and officials have yet to confirm a figure for the missing.