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The number of casualties from the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela continues to increase as emergency crews search for survivors in the hardest-hit areas.
According to Associated Press, at least 164 people have been confirmed dead, while 971 others have been injured.
Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez said authorities are deploying additional rescue teams to La Guaira, a coastal city north of Caracas that suffered some of the most severe damage.
Officials are racing against time to use daylight hours effectively in the search for people believed to remain trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are conducting intensive rescue operations to save lives,” Rodríguez said.
She also called on private companies to provide heavy construction equipment to support ongoing rescue efforts. According to the government, United Nations-certified search-and-rescue teams are already on their way to Venezuela.
Meanwhile, social media has been flooded with appeals from families seeking information about missing relatives.
Powerful earthquakes strike Venezuela
The disaster began on June 24, when two major earthquakes measuring 7.1 and 7.5 magnitude struck the country within less than a minute of each other.
The first quake was centered near Morón on the Caribbean coast, about 168 kilometers from Caracas. A stronger second earthquake followed shortly afterward, causing widespread destruction across several regions, including the capital.
