In Venezuela, the death toll from the earthquake has reached at least 164, with the number of injured approaching a thousand, according to the AP, CNN and Reuters, citing figures from the Latin American country’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez.
The Venezuelan authorities are currently deploying rescue teams from other parts of the country to the state of La Guaira, which has been hardest hit.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed… We are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives,” said the Venezuelan leader.
There were two powerful tremors. According to the US Geological Survey, earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck on 24 June, causing buildings to collapse in the capital, Caracas, and leading to the closure of the country’s main airport.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States is providing assistance to Venezuela. “The State Department is immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources and humanitarian aid to Venezuela,” Rubio wrote on social media platform X.
Venezuela is situated in a seismically active zone at the junction of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates.