More than five inmates died in Venezuela due to lack of medical care

Delcy Rodríguez announced that the number of injured due to the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that hit northern Venezuela has reached at least 12,400 people. The United Nations, for its part, projects that this figure could reach 50,000.

Government response and international aid

During a press conference held eight days after the double earthquake that affected Caracas and six other northern states of the country, Rodríguez detailed the participation of rescue teams from 33 nations. The interim president appeared alongside her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, President of Parliament, and the Minister of the Interior, Diosdado Cabello, defending the actions of the Venezuelan government and assuring that 6,462 individuals were rescued.

Rodríguez stated that the Venezuelan state acted immediately, issuing a decree right after the event to deal with the emergency, mobilizing both the civil protection and public defense systems.

Search for reconstruction resources

According to UN data released on Thursday, there were 3,000 international rescue teams present. The interim president also reported that she is in dialogue with the U.S. Department of State and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the aim of obtaining funds for the reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by the earthquakes.

Furthermore, Rodríguez mentioned contacts with the Inter-American Bank and the World Bank, institutions that have already offered non-reimbursable support and lines of credit to assist in Venezuela's recovery process.

Funds and damage assessments

The official reported the creation of an initial fund worth 200 million dollars (equivalent to 174.7 million euros) and the opening of an account at CAF — the Latin American and Caribbean Development Bank — intended to receive international donations for housing construction, under rigorous auditing mechanisms.

It was also reported that a highly specialized and professional group from Israel arrived in Caracas, focused on assessing the condition of buildings that sustained damage but did not completely collapse.

A satellite assessment, based on the Rapid Digital Analysis by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), estimated the losses in housing and economic assets, such as vehicles, buildings, and commercial establishments, at a preliminary value of 6.7 billion dollars (5.681 billion euros).

Human impact and political support

The Caracas government calculated that approximately 12,800 people lost their homes, while the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) counted 16,000 citizens who needed temporary shelter.

Rodríguez emphasized that in the first hours after the earthquakes, she received calls from 72 heads of state and government, ensuring that Venezuela's priority was saving lives, requiring rescue teams without political restrictions.

The president specifically thanked the support of Donald Trump, President of the United States; Pedro Sánchez, Head of Government of Spain; Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil; Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy; and Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador.

The number of Portuguese nationals or descendants who have died as a result of earthquakes in Venezuela has been updated: it now reaches 75 people, including 12 children. A survivor, whom a Portuguese rescue team discovered two days ago, has still not been rescued at the scene.

Government Reaction

The Portuguese government has declared a national day of mourning in memory of Portuguese citizens and Portuguese descendants who died as a result of the earthquakes in Venezuela.

Venezuela is facing the consequences of a strong earthquake that has resulted in the death of over a thousand people. The disaster exposed deep problems within the state, which was already in a critical condition. Among the victims are Portuguese nationals and their descendants, numbering 28 people. In this regard, Portuguese aircraft carrying dozens of operational staff have been dispatched to Venezuela. It is also reported that a newborn was extracted alive from the rubble.