The Daily Journal.— The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has received preliminary reports suggesting that as many as 50,000 people may remain missing following the two earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday.
The agency stressed that this figure does not represent an official count. However, it differs significantly from the latest figures released by the Venezuelan government, which currently report 589 deaths and 2,980 injuries.
To respond to the emergency, authorities and international partners have mobilized 30 urban search-and-rescue teams consisting of 1,600 specialists and 100 rescue dogs. Some teams are already operating in the affected areas, while the remaining units are expected to arrive in the coming days.
Countries supporting the international relief effort include Switzerland, the United States, the Netherlands, France, Qatar, the Czech Republic, Germany, Jordan, the United Kingdom, Spain, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Italy, El Salvador, and Mexico.
With information from EFE.
