Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 3,300
According to Reuters the death toll following a devastating series of earthquakes in Venezuela has reached 3,300. The natural disaster has left approximately 16,500 individuals injured and rendered 17,300 people homeless. Furthermore more than 38,600 people currently remain unaccounted for.
Emergency crews are still working to clear rubble from collapsed structures in hard-hit areas such as the city of Caraballeda in the coastal state of La Guaira.
Despite these rescue efforts public dissatisfaction with the official response is mounting across the country. Local residents and government critics have condemned the relief operation as both delayed and inadequate.
In defence of her administration Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez stated that security personnel were deployed to the disaster zones immediately following the initial tremors. She has also announced the formation of a brand-new military unit specifically dedicated to disaster management and emergency response.
The United States is playing a significant role in assisting Venezuelan authorities. General Francis Donovan who leads the US Southern Command told Reuters that over 900 American military personnel are currently on the ground in the South American nation. An additional 800 troops are stationed at bases in Puerto Rico and Curacao to provide logistical support for the operation.
General Donovan explained that US forces are actively participating in search and rescue missions and helping to restore operations at the local airport. The American military has also deployed its naval and aviation assets to transport vital international humanitarian aid directly to the worst-affected communities.
«We are using the same resources we normally use to track threats in the hemisphere to now ensure unimpeded movement on the roads and know where damaged buildings are,» Donovan remarked.
