Venezuela earthquake death toll climbs to 920 as authorities restrict access to worst-hit areas
Over 3,300 wounded and thousands displaced; rescue teams race to reach survivors still trapped under debris
CARACAS, Venezuela (AA) — The combined death toll from two devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela has climbed to 920, with injuries now totaling 3,360, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez confirmed on Friday.
In a televised address, Rodriguez described the disaster as a “seismic doublet” that struck the northern coastline on Wednesday, followed by powerful aftershocks that compounded the destruction across La Guaira state, the hardest-hit region.
He reported that 383 structures suffered significant damage, leaving critical infrastructure severely weakened. Some 3,007 people have been forced from their homes and are currently sheltering in temporary camps and field hospitals.
International and domestic search-and-rescue crews remain on the ground, working to pull survivors from beneath the wreckage of collapsed buildings.
Rodriguez called on the public to stay away from La Guaira, warning that congested roads were hampering evacuation efforts and slowing the movement of emergency vehicles.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello echoed that appeal in a separate televised statement, announcing formal restrictions on travel into the affected zone. He said local residents had reported that large crowds were blocking roadways and interfering with rescue operations.
Cabello also raised concerns about a looming public health crisis, noting the danger posed by bodies still buried beneath the rubble. “There are people alive under the debris, but tragically, there are also those who have perished.
This situation demands urgent attention,” he said, adding that anyone seeking entry into La Guaira must first register with authorities in the capital, Caracas.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the two quakes measured 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude and struck just 39 seconds apart.
The stronger tremor was centered roughly 14 miles southeast of Yumare in Yaracuy state, while the 7.2 magnitude quake hit about 15 miles northeast of San Felipe, also in Yaracuy.
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