Nearly 2,000 dead after Venezuela earthquakes as damage estimates soar
The consequences in the country may be more severe than initially thought (photo: Getty Images)
The death toll in Venezuela continues to rise following the earthquakes that struck last week. In addition, satellite images show a vast number of damaged and destroyed buildings, The Guardian reports.
According to the latest data, at least 1,943 people have been killed as a result of the two strongest earthquakes. In addition, more than 10,757 people have been injured, and tens of thousands are considered missing (likely trapped under the rubble).
The United Nations migration agency said that up to 6.8 million people could be affected by the disaster and will need shelter, water, sanitation, medical care, and essential supplies.
On Monday, the speaker of Venezuela's National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, said that 855 buildings had been damaged by the earthquakes, including 189 that completely collapsed.
However, The Guardian notes that an initial assessment of satellite data published by NASA indicates the possibility of much more severe and widespread destruction.
After analyzing high-resolution images, researchers at Oregon State University concluded that "approximately 58,870 buildings were likely damaged or destroyed across the affected region."
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has raised concerns about potential disease outbreaks, as Venezuela's overwhelmed and damaged healthcare facilities are struggling to cope with the aftermath of the earthquakes.
What preceded this
On June 24, two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela just one minute apart. The first had a magnitude of 7.2, and the second measured 7.5.
As a result, many buildings were damaged or destroyed. According to a United Nations assessment, nearly 2 million buildings were affected, and the damage is estimated at $6.7 billion.
