NASA Data Suggests 58,000 Buildings Destroyed After Venezuela Earthquakes

Satellite data analysis indicates that the number of buildings destroyed by the series of powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela could reach approximately 58,000, far exceeding the official figures released by authorities, The Guardian reported on June 30 (local time).

According to the analysis released by NASA, researchers at Oregon State University examined high-resolution radar images captured by the European Space Agency's (ESA) Sentinel-1 satellite. They concluded that approximately 58,870 buildings may have been damaged or destroyed.

This figure is dozens of times higher than the official count provided by Jorge Rodriguez, President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, who stated that 855 buildings were damaged, with 189 of them completely collapsed.

The Guardian noted that the satellite data analysis suggests the actual scale of the damage could significantly surpass government estimates.

The series of earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck Venezuela on June 24. As of now, the officially confirmed death toll stands at 1,943, with 10,571 people injured.

With tens of thousands of people still missing, the death toll is expected to rise significantly.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a strong warning that Venezuela's healthcare facilities have already exceeded their capacity, raising concerns about the potential outbreak of large-scale infectious diseases.

Foreign media outlets reported that while hospitals are overflowing with patients, even the registration of the deceased is not being properly conducted.
 
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.