Caracas, 28 June (H.S.): Venezuela was struck by another earthquake on Sunday as the country continued to grapple with the aftermath of the devastating twin earthquakes that have left thousands of people dead or injured and millions affected. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the latest earthquake measured 5.6 on the Richter scale and occurred at a depth of 30 kilometres beneath the sea off the Aragua coast.

The latest tremor comes as Venezuela struggles to recover from the powerful earthquakes that struck the country on June 24, causing widespread destruction across the north-central region.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez on Saturday provided an updated assessment of the disaster, stating that the official death toll from the June 24 earthquakes had risen to 1,430, while 3,238 people had been injured.

According to the Spanish-language newspaper El Nacional, Rodríguez, in a televised address to the nation, said that 3,142 families had been displaced and were currently being sheltered in temporary relief centres established across seven earthquake-affected states.

We are reporting the deaths of 1,430 of our fellow citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones, Rodríguez said.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez also announced on state television that rescue teams from 10 additional countries would soon join the ongoing humanitarian operation. She said 14,000 soldiers and police personnel had been deployed in La Guaira to maintain security and support sanitation efforts, while electricity remained disrupted in parts of Morón and La Guaira, the areas worst affected by the disaster.

Officials said at least 100 multi-storey residential buildings in the coastal city of La Guaira had been completely or partially damaged. Local residents and volunteers reported that rescue operations were being hampered by a shortage of heavy machinery and the slow pace of debris removal.

The government said hundreds of people remained missing or were feared trapped beneath collapsed structures. Meanwhile, an opposition-run website has claimed that more than 54,000 people are still unaccounted for, although that figure has not been independently verified.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has estimated that the twin earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, could ultimately claim more than 10,000 lives. If confirmed, the disaster could become the deadliest earthquake in Latin America in more than a century.

According to the United Nations, nearly seven million people could be affected by the disaster, with direct economic losses estimated at approximately USD 6.7 billion.

The Venezuelan government said that by Saturday, around 1,600 international rescue personnel had arrived from various countries to assist with relief and search operations. The first humanitarian aid flights from the United States carrying emergency supplies have also landed in Caracas.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar