Death toll for Venezuela earthquake reaches 1,700

Around 1,700 people have now been confirmed to have died in last week’s earthquakes in Venezuela, with over 46,600 people still missing.

It is likely that the death toll will continue to rise in the coming days, as the 72-hour ‘golden window’ in which survivors are most likely to be found alive has now passed.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) previously estimated that there was a 39% chance of deaths between 1,000 and 10,000, and a 37% likelihood of between 10,000 and 100,000, according to its Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) model.

Additionally, while power is slowly being restored in parts of the affected area, many people remain displaced, with hundreds of buildings destroyed or severely damaged.

International rescue teams and aid have continued to arrive in the country in the past few days – alongside those reported on 26 June, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that teams have been dispatched from around the world.

Countries contributing to rescue efforts include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and the Dominican Republic; as well as from Germany, Czechia, Spain, the US, France, Italy, Jordan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Qatar, the UK, Serbia, Syria, Switzerland and Türkiye.

China has also announced that it will send US$14.72 million in emergency supplies to Venezuela, while $5.7 million has been sent by the European Union (EU). The EU’s  Copernicus satellite system is also being used to support emergency responders.