The death toll from the strongest earthquake to hit Venezuela in 126 years has risen to 235, with the number of injured exceeding 4,300.
With more than 46,000 people registered as missing on a local tracking website, rescue operations are racing against the clock as the "golden hour" for saving survivors quickly slips away.
Displaced residents who lost their homes spent their second night on the streets, while rescue workers and locals, facing a severe shortage of heavy equipment, are digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings with their bare hands to find survivors.
International relief efforts are also gaining full momentum, with the U.S. military arriving in the capital, Caracas, to begin aid operations.
235 Dead, 4,300 Injured... Estimated 46,000 MissingCarlos Alvarado, Venezuela's Minister of Health, announced that the death toll from the consecutive earthquakes has reached at least 235.
The number of injured has surged nearly threefold in a single day to 4,300, and casualties are highly likely to rise further as building collapses continue.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez stated that at least 250 buildings, including eight hospitals, the headquarters of the Venezuelan Red Cross, and the French Embassy, have been damaged, and about 200 people are believed to be trapped under the rubble.
On a missing persons tracking website run by a local civic group, more than 46,000 people have been registered as unaccounted for.
However, this figure is compiled from reports by family members or acquaintances and has not been officially confirmed by the government.
With more than 30 hours having passed since the earthquake struck, the "golden hour" for rescuing survivors is quickly running out.
Experts consider the first 24 to 48 hours after an earthquake to be the most critical window for rescuing survivors, with the probability of survival remaining relatively high for up to 72 hours.
Power, Communications Cut Off: Displaced Residents Sleep on StreetsAccording to CNN, in the quake-hit port city of La Guaira, the capital Caracas, and surrounding areas, displaced residents who lost their homes are spending their second night on the streets.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that residents are gathering in public spaces, such as parks and Plazas, with many unable to return home.
Although schools and baseball stadiums have been opened as temporary shelters, capacity is insufficient, and many residents have chosen to stay outdoors due to the fear of aftershocks.
The New York Times (NYT) reported that in heavily damaged coastal cities, the cries of residents who lost family members continue, and in some areas, bodies have been seen left lying on the streets.
Foreign media reported that due to power outages and communication failures, residents are suffering from extreme anxiety, unable to contact their families.
With initial estimates of the missing reaching tens of thousands, websites and online bulletin boards sharing photos and personal information to find missing family members are rapidly emerging.
Rescue operations are facing severe difficulties.
This is due to the collapse of rescue infrastructure, compounded by severe shortages of supplies resulting from long-standing Western sanctions.
Unable to wait for the government's heavy machinery support, residents and volunteers are relying on shovels, wheelbarrows, and their bare hands to clear concrete debris and search for survivors.
U.S. Troops Deployed to Caracas: Global Relief Efforts UnderwayThe United States, which previously pledged $150 million (approximately 231.7 billion won) in aid, has also initiated military support for Venezuela.
The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced that Marine Corps Major General Kevin J. Jarrard has arrived in the capital, Caracas, to oversee the U.S. military's relief operations.
The U.S. military is mobilizing transport planes and helicopters to airlift rescue teams, equipment, and relief supplies to the affected areas.
This cooperation is drawing significant attention as it comes just six months after U.S. special forces conducted a military operation in Caracas to arrest President Nicolás Maduro in January this year.
The United Nations is coordinating the deployment of urban search and rescue teams from various countries, centered around the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), while the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched a $2.5 million emergency assistance program.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) are also in talks with the Venezuelan government regarding recovery assistance, while the European Union (EU) is utilizing its satellite systems to analyze the damage and support local relief efforts.
Spain is deploying military search and rescue teams and firefighters, and is working to set up field hospitals. Germany has promised military transport aircraft, Switzerland is sending rescue teams and search dogs, and France has pledged to dispatch specialized rescue teams.
Latin American nations, including Mexico, El Salvador, Colombia, Chile, and Cuba, have also agreed to send rescue personnel, medical teams, and relief supplies.
▲ Mexican Army search and rescue team departing for Venezuela
Support from the private sector is also pouring in.
Elon Musk's space company, SpaceX, has made its satellite internet service, Starlink, available for free until July 25.
Pope Leo XIV also delivered 100,000 euros (approximately 170 million won) in emergency aid.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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