The Daily Journal.— Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, released an updated official assessment of the earthquake emergency affecting the country. She raised the death toll to 589 and announced the deployment of military forces along the central coast to coordinate relief efforts and maintain public order.
“Overall, we must report that, regrettably, 589 people have lost their lives and 2,980 others have suffered injuries,” Rodríguez said.
The acting president’s figure of 2,980 injured people differs from the report Health Minister Carlos Alvarado released Thursday evening. Speaking on the state-run television network Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Alvarado said, “As of 7:00 p.m. today, the public healthcare system has treated more than 4,300 injured people.”
Rodríguez also expressed optimism about those who survived the disaster.
“We have rescued dozens of people alive (…). It fills us with joy to see them embrace their families and loved ones once again.”
The acting president also reported that authorities had recorded 214 aftershocks by Friday morning, “which demonstrates the seismic activity across our territory.”
Military deployment and state of natural disaster in La Guaira
The national government announced the militarization of La Guaira state, which borders Caracas and now remains under a formal state of natural disaster.
Rodríguez explained that state security forces are working alongside government ministries and local municipalities throughout the coastal region.
“Our Bolivarian National Armed Forces, through all of their branches, are on the ground in La Guaira state to respond to this extremely difficult situation affecting our people,” she said.
Roads reopen as international rescue teams arrive
The acting presidency also announced that engineering and rescue brigades had cleared the state’s main highways. Restoring road access has allowed rescue teams to reach the areas that suffered the greatest destruction without delay.
The reopening of these transportation routes has also enabled humanitarian contingents from several foreign countries to deploy across the disaster zone.
“It has deeply moved us to see the flags of the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, the United States, and Switzerland, whose teams have already arrived in our country to extend a helping hand to the Venezuelan people. Rescue personnel have now deployed across the different disaster areas to save lives,” Rodríguez said.
With information from the Presidential Press.
