Two Magnitude-7 Earthquakes Kill at Least 1,450 in Venezuela

Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 1,450 people as of Sunday. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez stated that the fatalities included women and men who lost their lives in what she described as the most severe natural catastrophe in the country's history.

Some 3,150 people remained injured and 12,721 had been displaced, while 774 buildings collapsed, including 189 that were totally destroyed.

Rescue teams had pulled 33 people from the rubble by Saturday evening, including several children. A website promoted by the political opposition listed just under 50,000 people as unaccounted for on Sunday, down from 55,000 the previous day; France 24 reported a separate figure of 68,900.

Twenty-four nations have sent 521 tons of supplies, 86 dog units trained for rubble searches, and more than 2,700 search-and-rescue personnel.

Twenty-four nations have sent supplies and more than 2,700 search-and-rescue personnel; the United States dispatched a 250-strong team and used one partially reopened runway at Simon Bolivar International Airport for its military planes. Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly, said in a televised address that teams were working to find survivors before time ran out.

He added that the government faced critical hours both to continue rescues and to set up camps for those who lost homes.