Caracas, 28 June (H.S.): Millions of people remain affected by the devastating twin earthquakes that recently struck Venezuela, as the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen. The official death toll has risen steadily, with authorities on Saturday confirming that at least 1,430 people have lost their lives.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez shared the latest assessment of the disaster in the country's north-central region, stating that the earthquakes that struck on June 24 have also left 3,238 people injured.

According to the Spanish-language Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional, Rodríguez, in a televised address to the nation, said that 3,142 families have been displaced by the disaster and are currently being accommodated in temporary shelters 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 during this tragic time, Rodríguez said.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said on state television that rescue teams from 10 additional countries are expected to join ongoing relief operations shortly. She also announced that nearly 14,000 soldiers and police personnel have been deployed in La Guaira to assist with security, sanitation, and emergency response efforts.

Authorities said electricity remains disrupted in parts of Morón and La Guaira, the areas closest to the earthquake's epicentre.

Officials reported that at least 100 residential apartment buildings in the coastal city of La Guaira have been either completely or partially damaged. Local residents and volunteers have expressed concern that rescue efforts are being hampered by a shortage of heavy machinery and the slow pace of debris removal.

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

The United States Geological Survey has estimated that the final death toll from the twin earthquakes, measuring magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, could exceed 10,000. If confirmed, the disaster could become the deadliest earthquake to strike Latin America in more than a century.

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

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

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar