The Daily Journal.— Venezuela’s Ministry of Health updated the casualty toll following the two earthquakes that struck the country on June 24. Health Minister Carlos Alvarado raised the death toll to 235 and reported that the public hospital network has treated more than 4,300 injured people.
“As of 7:00 p.m. today, the public healthcare system has treated more than 4,300 injured people (…) and has received about 235 patients who arrived without vital signs or died upon arrival at our healthcare facilities,” Minister Alvarado said on the state-run television network Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).
La Guaira suffers the greatest impact
Official reports indicated that La Guaira recorded the highest number of injuries and fatalities. The state, which borders the Venezuelan capital, is home to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, the country’s main international gateway. Authorities temporarily closed the airport after the earthquakes caused structural damage.
Before the Health Ministry released its latest figures, Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, conducted a technical inspection in La Guaira alongside Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez.
“We are here in Macuto, La Guaira State, standing with our people as search and rescue teams work to reach those trapped beneath collapsed buildings and structures after yesterday’s double earthquake. We stand with the families, extend our solidarity, and hope to rescue as many people alive as possible,” the acting president said.
After touring the central coastline, Rodríguez traveled to the San Bernardino parish in Caracas to assess the structural damage across the capital.
WHO warns of the critical rescue phase
On the international front, the World Health Organization (WHO) reminded the public on Friday that the first 72 hours after a disaster are critical for locating people trapped beneath the rubble and increasing their chances of survival.
During a virtual press conference from Washington, Ciro Ugarte, Director of Health Emergencies at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)—the WHO’s regional office for the Americas—described the medical challenges hospitals face in the affected areas. Medical teams continue to treat fractures, head injuries, burns, and crush injuries resulting from the widespread building collapses.
“Immediate health priorities include managing large numbers of casualties and providing trauma care, especially in areas with collapsed buildings where search and rescue operations continue,” Ugarte said.
The PAHO representative added that Venezuela’s healthcare system already faced significant challenges because of a prolonged humanitarian emergency. He warned that the earthquakes would create additional operational and supply needs as authorities continue to respond to the disaster.
