The number of confirmed dead left in the wake of powerful twin earthquakes that ravaged Venezuela earlier this week surged to more than 900 yesterday.
Venezuelan officials confirmed mass injuries and vast infrastructural damage across the country’s coastal and northern regions from the quakes that have left 51,000 missing and thousands more injured and without homes.
As he appeared on TV yesterday, National Assembly Leader Jorge Rodriguez told the Venezuelan public that although initial reports had counted slightly more than 30 deaths after the devastating 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude quakes, the official death toll yesterday afternoon had climbed to 920.
At least 3,360 people have been injured, and at least 3,000 displaced, he added.
In a public address hours earlier, Venezuela’s interim President, Delcy Rodriguez, had estimated a much lower toll, though she noted that the figure did not include the hardest-hit La Guaira state, a small coastal district near Caracas.
In that region alone, hundreds of buildings, including single-family homes and apartment buildings, were completely destroyed or damaged, prompting a state of emergency and total military control. Its most affected constituencies, he added, are Caraballeda, Macuto, Los Corales, Catia La Mar, and the Playa Grande sector.
Country-wide, Rodriguez said 13 hospitals and 25 commercial centres, in addition to 1,012 structures, had been damaged, bringing the total number of damaged infrastructure to more than 1,400.
Between the earthquakes on June 24 to yesterday afternoon, he added, Venezuela recorded 302 seismic events or aftershocks.
“That means that in addition to the two catastrophic earthquakes, with a level of force rarely seen in the history of planet Earth, at least over the last thousand years, in addition to the two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, we have experienced another 300 seismic events in the form of aftershocks along the three fault lines that exist in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” he said.
Venezuelan civilians gathered over the last two days attempting to transport aid into La Guaira, though Rodriguez however urged against venturing to the region.
“We understand that the desire to help others has been overwhelming and heartfelt on the part of all of you. However, this also causes congestion on the roads we are using to evacuate affected residents and transport the injured either to shelters or to hospitals in the capital city and in Miranda state,” Rodriguez stated.
“The best way you can help, the greatest support you can provide is by not congesting the roads, so that medical teams can transport patients quickly and so that the armed forces, police, and rescue teams can carry out their work more effectively.”
“We also want to inform everyone that at this time, La Guaira state is completely under military control. The Bolivarian National Armed Forces have full control of the area to guarantee public security, maintain internal order, and facilitate the rescue operations being carried out tirelessly,” he said.
International aid
Rodriguez noted that hundreds of international rescue workers had landed in Venezuela, hundreds from the United States, El Salvador, Colombia, Mexico, Spain and others.
As Venezuela’s US relations continue to thaw in the aftermath of the deposition of its president Nicolas Maduro, the US Southern Command, which has over the past year carried out multiple lethal strikes in the region’s waters and which months ago participated in the operation to extract Maduro from Caracas, yesterday said it would increase US military capabilities to the country to provide relief.
Two US Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft transporting search and rescue teams would deliver load-movement equipment to Caracas. The Globemasters reportedly landed in Caracas yesterday evening.
Warships, including the US USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28), that months ago were part of one of the largest military build-ups in the Caribbean Sea, yesterday arrived near Venezuelan waters and will begin supporting relief efforts.
United Nations Under Secretary General Tom Fletcher yesterday noted that US$15 million in aid had been allocated to the UN’s Global Emergency Fund to provide aid to Venezuela.
Rodriguez and Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yvan Gil, have both since posted a number of diplomatic calls with international leaders, promising solidarity and aid.
T&T organises aid campaign
Following a public pledge of solidarity from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Trinidadians have begun organising aid and relief efforts.
The Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs yesterday announced a National Humanitarian Relief response for the people of Venezuela, following a meeting held by Foreign Affairs Minister Sean Sobers, Rural Development Minister Khadijah Ameen, and senior representatives of the ministries of Defence, Health, and Homeland Security (Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management).
The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association, American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago, Energy Chamber, and SEWA International TT were also present, it said.
A release from the ministry announced a Government collaboration with the private sector to facilitate a relief effort that will include donations from the private sector and a national collection drive beginning on Monday.
Private donations, it said, will be accepted at Warehouse Sheds 1 and 2, Port of Point Lisas, Amazon Drive, Point Lisas Industrial Estate.
The drive will be held between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., in collaboration with all 14 municipal corporations.
The ministry said monetary contributions from members of the public and corporate Trinidad and Tobago may be made to the Disaster Relief Fund-Venezuela at First Citizens, account number 3209042, at any branch or via online transfer.
It said members of the public are encouraged to donate over-the-counter medical supplies, personal hygiene items, including feminine hygiene products, non-perishable food items (including bottled water) with a shelf life of at least three months, and mattresses and cots.
In a separate release yesterday, SEWA TT launched its own Venezuela Earthquake Relief Campaign, which it said is intended to mobilise financial support for affected families.
Several local supermarkets, it said, have joined an initiative that would allow members of the public to make financial contributions to the effort.
The stores include, Xtra Foods Supermarket; Better Deal Supermarket; West Bees Supermarket; SS Persad Supermarket; Low Cost Supermarket, Cunupia; MS Food City Supermarket, Debe; and Chase Mart Supermarket.
Those interested can ask cashiers to make a donation to the “Venezuela Earthquake Relief” campaign.
Their contribution will be added to their bill, with all proceeds going directly towards SEWA TT’s earthquake relief efforts.
Migrants living in T&T are also trying to organise aid efforts within the coming days. From Thursday, groups mobilised, encouraging those interested to donate items in demand that will be transported to Venezuela on Monday.
A group of activists across the country have been accepting items such as diapers, non-perishable foods, and medicine such as paracetamol, antibiotics and first aid supplies at multiple locations.
A flyer shared with the Express noted that items could be donated at Henry Street, Curepe, Aranjuez, Ariapita Avenue, St James, San Juan and Chaguanas.
The items will be taken to Venezuela via boat.
Activist Yesenia Gonzales told the Express yesterday: “Right now everybody is sad and distressed. It is a difficult situation that caused a big shock to the community here. We are asking for prayer and donations to help.
“All the Venezuelans here have banded together to put together donations. We have places to donate clothes; there is a boat that goes and we are willing to take it there. We are trying to raise funds because this is very bad. We are putting things together,” she said.
