8 minutes agoEarthquake deaths in Venezuela rise to 920
Periskopi(an hour ago)
(an hour ago)The official death toll from earthquakes that ravaged parts of Caracas and surrounding areas rose to 920, lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly, said on Friday.
The government has estimated that hundreds of people are still trapped and missing, nearly two days after quakes with magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 hit about 160km west of Caracas.
A website designed to receive reports of still undiscovered people had more than 50,000 listed by Friday afternoon. The chief of UN aid gave a similar figure, Reuters reports, broadcasts Klankosova.tv.
Rescue teams and foreign aid began arriving Friday, as the depressed Venezuelan and a growing number of foreign volunteers rushed to find survivors trapped in ruins.
Rodriguez said 871 international rescue workers were in place Friday afternoon. The countries that sent teams include Mexico, El Salvador and Spain. The US Geological Service has predicted a high potential for more than 10,000 deaths, which would place earthquakes among the deadliest earthquakes in Latin America in the past century.
