At least 188 people have died and 971 were injured after a pair of powerful quakes rocked Venezuela, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said Thursday.
The acting president had said earlier that at least 32 people have died after Wednesday evening´s 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes, and that the toll was expected to rise.
The quakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century and could be felt throughout the region. Buildings were evacuated in places as far away as Brazil´s Amazon, about 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from Venezuela´s capital, Caracas.
Footage on state TV showed three children, covered in dust but alive, pulled from the rubble in La Guaira state, which Rodríguez described as a “disaster zone” and the area hardest hit by the quakes.
The quakes, among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, could be felt throughout the region, with buildings evacuated in places as far away as Brazil´s Amazon, about 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from Venezuela´s capital, Caracas.
While Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes strong earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. Rodríguez declared a state of emergency in an address to the nation late Wednesday, saying the quakes caused damage in several states. She asked health care professionals to report to hospitals to assist the injured.
Pakistan express grief
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives and widespread devastation caused by the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela. The president extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and conveyed his sympathies to the Government and people of Venezuela during this difficult time, said a statement issued from President House media wing.
President Asif Ali Zardari said that the people of Pakistan stood in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and shared their grief. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the disaster and for strength and resilience for all those affected. The president expressed the hope that the people of Venezuela would overcome this tragedy with courage and determination and that relief and rescue efforts would bring timely assistance to those in need.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed deep grief and sorrow over the devastation and loss of life caused by the earthquakes in Venezuela.
“On behalf of the people of Pakistan, I convey our heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Venezuela, especially the families of the victims”, the prime minister said in his post on X. We pray for the injured and stand in solidarity with all those affected during this difficult and challenging time, he added.