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Nearly 6.8 million people may have been affected by the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela, the United Nations (UN) estimated on Sunday, as the death toll continues to mount.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), about 2 million residents in Caracas alone may have been affected by the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck the country on Wednesday. The organization stressed that the estimates are based on demographic data and damage analysis, warning of a severe humanitarian impact.
So far, at least 920 people have died, thousands more have been injured, and tens of thousands are still missing. According to a platform set up by the Venezuelan opposition, more than 54,000 people have been registered as missing, although the government reports a much lower number.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan authorities announced that 1,600 members of international rescue teams have arrived in the country on 17 flights to help search for survivors, while another 25 flights with aid and personnel are expected to arrive in the next 24 hours.
The hardest-hit area remains La Guaira, north of Caracas, where at least 100 buildings have collapsed or sustained severe damage. Residents have complained of a lack of heavy equipment and a limited presence of authorities, while many families continue to search for their loved ones by digging through the rubble with their hands.
To facilitate the movement of ambulances and rescue teams, authorities have restricted traffic on the road connecting La Guaira to Caracas.
The UN estimates that the economic damage caused by the two earthquakes could reach around $6.7 billion.
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