Death Toll Surpasses 1,700 as Rescue Efforts Struggle Amid 4.6 Magnitude Aftershocks

[Anchor]

In Venezuela, which was struck by a powerful earthquake, the death toll has risen to at least 1,719. With many more still missing, concerns over further damage are growing as aftershocks, including one measuring magnitude 4.6, continue to hit the region.

Reporter Jung Hye-jin has the story.

[Reporter]

Another day is coming to an end, yet people cannot bring themselves to leave their ruined villages.

[Ana Rada / Family member of a missing person: I heard there were signs of life, and I firmly believe they are alive. I will believe they are alive until I see the body with my own eyes.]

Desperate for rescue, some say they have even spoken on the phone with family members trapped under the rubble.

[Vladimir Moreno / Family member of a missing person: Hello? Can you hear me? (Hello, hello.) Hello. Can you hear me?]

One week after the earthquake, the Venezuelan government officially announced that the death toll has reached 1,719, with 5,034 people reported injured.

The government added that 15,866 people have been displaced so far, and more than 20,000 people are receiving medical treatment.

Morgues in areas such as the capital, Caracas, are overwhelmed by the influx of bodies.

With over 430 aftershocks continuing and infrastructure collapsed, rescue operations remain slow.

[Affected Resident: They are not providing any equipment. My family is still under that rubble.]

Public frustration is mounting as the government has restricted access to various roads, claiming it is to reduce congestion.

[Affected Resident: They are not helping with the search through the rubble, and they are not even allowing us to enter the site.]

While there was a moment of hope with the dramatic rescue of an 18-day-old infant and her mother from the debris of a collapsed apartment, a magnitude 4.6 aftershock hit the capital, Caracas, yesterday (June 29), raising concerns about further damage.

The United Nations estimates that the number of people missing due to this powerful earthquake is approximately 50,000.

(Video Editing: Jung Sung-hoon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.