Venezuela Death Toll over 900 as Search for Survivors Continues

The death toll in Venezuela has reached 900 after a devastating double earthquake, as rescue teams including foreign workers struggle to reach affected areas.

The earthquakes hit the Caracas area on Wednesday, but it has taken two days for help to reach some areas.

The government has said 172 people remain trapped, 920 have died and more than 3,300 have been injured.

Fifty thousand people have been reported missing, and the US Geological Survey has estimated as many as 10,000 deaths are possible, which would make the disaster one of Latin America’s worst earthquakes in the last century.

The two quakes, magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, are among the most powerful in over a century, in Venezuela.

The damage is currently estimated at close to $7 billion.

Reuters reports, “Frustration mounted over the uneven pace of relief in some of the hardest-hit areas including La Guaira state, where residents and volunteers were still digging through rubble by hand amid shortages of heavy equipment and limited ​official presence.”

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who has pledged major relief, faces acute pressure, after decades of economic and political turmoil.

Since taking over from Nicolas Maduro, who was captured during a US special-forces raid in January, she has sought to portray herself as an agent of long-awaited change, despite serving under Maduro for many years.

Looting has been reported in areas affected by the earthquakes.

Police, national guard and other representatives of the regime have so far not intervened to prevent looting.

Rescue teams from abroad began arriving in Venezuela on Thursday.

President Rodriguez spoke with President Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio by phone on Friday, after meeting in person with US Northern Command and disaster-relief experts.

The US will provide $150 million in aid, ease sanctions and deploy helicopters and aircraft to aid the response.