Metro53 - CARACAS: Rescue operations continued across Venezuela on Friday following a devastating earthquake that has claimed at least 920 lives, while more than 50,000 people remain unaccounted for amid fears that the death toll could rise significantly.
According to international media reports, over 3,000 people have been injured in the disaster, with hospitals and emergency medical facilities struggling to cope with the influx of casualties. Authorities said medical treatment and relief assistance were being provided to affected communities as rescue teams continued searching through collapsed buildings and debris.
The powerful earthquake, followed by a series of aftershocks, has left thousands of residents displaced. Many families have been forced to spend nights in open areas due to concerns over the structural safety of homes and public buildings.
Officials said the large number of missing persons has heightened concerns that fatalities could increase substantially in the coming days as search efforts progress in the worst-hit regions.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) warned that, given the scale of destruction and the extent of damage to infrastructure, the final death toll could exceed 10,000. Emergency responders, supported by international aid agencies, are continuing round-the-clock operations to locate survivors trapped beneath the rubble.
Government authorities have appealed for additional humanitarian assistance as relief efforts intensify across the earthquake-stricken nation.
