Death Toll from the Venezuelan Earthquakes Rises to 235 and Injured to 4300
A member of the Chacao Health Department observes debris removal efforts using heavy machinery this Thursday in the Chacao municipality of Caracas, Venezuela.
The Venezuelan government raised the death toll to 235 and the number of injured to 4,300 on Thursday night from the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes the previous day, whose devastation hit the state of La Guaira particularly hard. “It is also good to remember that in the public system we have attended to more than 4,300 injured people as of 7:00 p.m. today and we have received around 235 patients who arrive without vital signs or die upon arrival at our health facilities,” said Health Minister Carlos Alvarado on the state channel Venezolana de Televisión.
Photograph above showing a building collapsed by earthquakes this Thursday in the Chacao municipality of Caracas, Venezuela.
Alvarado indicated that the “largest number of injured and deceased is in the state of La Guaira,” which borders Caracas and is home to the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, the country’s main airport, which was temporarily closed due to the damage it suffered as a result of the earthquakes. The official also reported that due to the number of patients to be treated in the hospitals of that coastal region, they have implemented the installation of field hospitals. Hours earlier, Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, visited La Guaira along with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez, according to images from the state channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).
From the parish of Macuto, the president assured that they hope to “recover as many people alive as possible” from among the collapsed buildings, many of which are located in the city of La Guaira, as well as in the towns of Catia La Mar and Caraballeda, as confirmed by news media. “We have requested international assistance; the first rescuers arriving from the Dominican Republic are about to land, and more will arrive from other countries soon,” added the official, who declared the state a disaster zone.
Marianella Cremi, in the back on the right, with her brother Juan Diego, on the left, and their parents at a family gathering. ‘My heart tells me he’s alive’: the hope of a young woman awaiting the rescue of her brother under the rubble of a building in Caracas.
Marianella Cremi is sitting on a sidewalk next to her mother, a few blocks from the Petunia building in Caracas, where her brother Juan Diego was watching the game between Brazil and Scotland when the roof collapsed on him during the two earthquakes that shook Venezuela this Wednesday. In that match, Juan Diego Cremi was rooting for Brazil, although he is actually supporting Portugal in the World Cup to honor his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo. Marianella, 25, describes her younger brother’s sporting preferences in the present tense because she is “absolutely certain” that Juan Diego survived even though he is still under the rubble.
At 6:04 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, just four minutes after the start of the game, a first earthquake of magnitude 7.2 shook Venezuela, followed by a second earthquake of 7.5 just 39 seconds later. This phenomenon, known to geophysicists as a “seismic doublet”, has caused dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries. “My heart tells me that my brother is alive,” Marianella says in a WhatsApp call from a street in Los Palos Grandes, one of the areas of Caracas most affected in the north of the Venezuelan capital. It’s a little after 12:00 pm. About 18 hours have passed since the Petunia building collapsed.
Picks, Shovels, and Face Masks
Since her mother prefers not to go near the ruins, Marianella stays with her while her father, Mario Cremi, remains shoulder to shoulder with the rescuers searching for Juan Diego and his girlfriend, 22-year-old Sabrina Bolognesi. “Since they know my son is there with his girlfriend, they’ve given me priority and let me in,” says Marianella and Juan Diego’s father. “I’m very grateful to everyone.” Every now and then, the father returns and updates them on the progress: a crane has finally arrived to move the heaviest concrete slabs, although the rescuers are asking for picks, shovels, hydraulic jacks, levers, face masks, helmets, and protective glasses. Otherwise, they’d have to do the search by the skin of their teeth.
When Marianella told her friends about this situation, they went to buy supplies at the hardware stores they found open, and even volunteered to help with the search. “My dad was told that Los Topos de México are here,” says Marianella, referring to the rescue group known for intervening in international crisis relief efforts. Juan Diego and Sabrina were accompanied by Sofía Bolognesi, Sabrina’s younger sister, and Victoria Delgado, a friend of the group. Thanks to staying close to the rescuers, Marianella’s father met the man who rescued Sofia from the rubble in the early hours of the morning. “I personally pulled her out,” the rescuer reportedly said. “Her legs were trapped; it was quite difficult to get them out, but we managed.” Victoria was also rescued. “Only Juan Diego and Sabrina are missing,” says Marianella. “We have faith and trust in God that we will find them alive.”
Help is on the way from Panama
Panama will Activate a Mission of 61 Search and Rescue Specialists Regarding Earthquakes in Venezuela
Pictured above buildings damaged by earthquakes in the town of Catia La Mar, in the coastal state of La Guaira (Venezuela) this Thursday. Panama will deploy a contingent of 61 emergency response specialists to assist in search and rescue efforts in Venezuela, following the two powerful earthquakes that struck the country and have so far left 235 dead, over 4300 injured and dozens missing. “We are making the necessary adjustments in the different disciplines that make up the mission, including search and rescue in collapsed structures, the communications component, and the canine units,” Smith explained. Videos from X below:
Following the Suspension of Routes to Caracas, Copa Airlines Enables Additional Flights between Panama and Valencia
Copa Airlines announced the scheduling of additional flights between Panama City and Valencia, Venezuela, as part of the measures adopted to assist passengers affected by the suspension of its operations to Caracas. Maiquetía International Airport is closed due the earthquake in Venezuela, and airlines suspend flights. The airline announced that it will temporarily reinforce its operations between Panama City and Valencia from June 26 to July 2.
