Emergency brigades with rescue dogs were lifting mountains of rubble this Sunday in search of survivors of the double earthquake that occurred four days ago in Venezuela, which completely destroyed almost 200 buildings and left at least 1,450 dead and tens of thousands missing. Among the dead are 17 Spaniards and 150 from our country.
The hope of finding people alive under nearly 800 collapsed buildings -189 of them completely- diminishes after the double earthquake that shook this country on Wednesday at 18:06 local time, a country immersed in a deep political and economic crisis.
The UN estimates that the earthquakes could leave nearly seven million affected and material damages of 6.7 billion dollars, 6% of the GDP of the oil-rich country.
China to send $14.7 million in aid to Venezuela after earthquakes
China announced on Monday the dispatch of emergency material aid worth 100 million yuan (about $14.7 million) to Venezuela to support rescue and reconstruction efforts after the earthquakes last Wednesday, which have so far caused 1,450 deaths, reports Efe.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated in a routine press conference today that the supplies will be sent to the South American country "as soon as possible" and will complement the direct financial aid previously provided.
Additionally, he mentioned that China has provided Venezuela with satellite images of the affected areas to support disaster response efforts.
Valladolid observes a minute of silence for the victims of the Venezuela earthquake
The City Council of Valladolid observed a minute of silence on Monday for the victims of the two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 that struck Venezuela last Wednesday, leaving a toll of 1,450 dead and 3,150 injured, reports Efe.
The mayor of Valladolid, Jesús Julio Carnero, anticipated this tribute, which the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) called for at the doors of the City Councils at 12:00 hours "given the magnitude of the catastrophe," in the early minutes of Monday.
"All this, in support of the victims and in solidarity with the people of Venezuela," stated the mayor, before the general meetings of the public companies Auvasa and Nevasa and the subsequent ordinary session of the municipal Corporation.
UME emphasizes its commitment to saving the maximum number of lives after the earthquakes
The Emergency Military Unit (UME), deployed to Venezuela after the earthquakes for search and rescue tasks, is committed to saving as many human lives as possible, as stated by UME First Corporal Antonio Diosdado.
In statements sent to EFE, Diosdado expressed that three days after arriving in Venezuela, the UME continues to carry out search and rescue operations, going to all places where there are indications of people possibly still alive. He explained that this task is carried out in coordination and collaboration with the other countries participating in the international aid that has reached Venezuela.
"We will continue to persevere, we will continue to insist, we will continue to try to achieve our goal and that of all of us here, which is nothing other than to continue saving as many human lives as possible," he emphasized.
Venezuela extends suspension of classes until July 5 due to earthquakes
Venezuelan authorities have announced an extension until July 5 of the suspension of classes due to the "significant impact" of the earthquakes on June 24, which have so far resulted in at least 1,450 deaths - including 17 Spaniards - and 3,150 injuries, according to the latest official report, REPORTS EFE.
"The suspension of school activities in all educational institutions in the country is maintained during this week, from June 29 to July 5, due to the significant impact caused by the double earthquake that struck our country," stated the Venezuelan Ministry of Education.
Thus, both families and the educational sector are urged to "only follow official institutional channels" and notifications published by the authorities of the South American country, with the aim of "ensuring certified information."
Venezuela's largest refinery halts operations after a blackout
Venezuela's largest refinery, Amuay, with a capacity to process 645,000 barrels per day, suspended its operations this Sunday after a major blackout in the western state of Falcón, reported workers at the facility, according to Reuters.
The South American country is facing difficulties in supplying electricity to industrial plants, refineries, companies, and the population since being hit by two deadly earthquakes. The Amuay refinery, crucial for producing fuels for the domestic market, was processing around 137,000 barrels of crude oil per day before the earthquakes.
Opposition warns of floods in a Venezuelan state due to heavy rains
Several opposition parties in Venezuela warned on Sunday of floods in the state of Portuguesa (west) due to heavy rains, at a time when the country is in a state of emergency due to the earthquakes last Wednesday that caused at least 1,450 deaths, reports Efe.
The Vente Venezuela (VV) party, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, indicated that the rainfall is "causing havoc" in Chabasquén, the capital of the Monseñor José Vicente de Unda municipality in Portuguesa.
According to the opposition party, a river overflowed, causing damage to two schools and flooding, prompting solidarity with the affected families.
A man and his son rescued from the rubble almost four days after the earthquakes
A man and his son were rescued in La Guaira on Sunday from the rubble by international rescuers, almost four days after the strong earthquakes that hit Venezuela and left nearly 1,500 dead, as confirmed by journalists from Afp.
Visibly tired and still in shock, the father and the child were extracted from a mass of cement and other materials by French and American rescuers, in a beach area of Caraballeda, about 40 kilometers from Caracas.
Collapse of Hugo Chávez's housing plan complex
The double earthquake in Venezuela rendered one of the large complexes of the housing program promoted by the late President Hugo Chávez in La Guaira uninhabitable, as confirmed by Afp.
The two earthquakes that occurred on Wednesday in less than a minute have left nearly 1,500 dead and great devastation in the country, especially in La Guaira, neighboring Caracas and considered the epicenter of the tragedy.
Robberies and looting in devastated area of Venezuela
Not even the cables were left in a small store. The robberies and looting began in the most devastated area by the double earthquake in Venezuela as soon as the earth stopped shaking. Reports of thefts abound in the coastal state of La Guaira, adjacent to Caracas and now a large pile of rubble, as reported by Afp.
In a video on social media, a group of people are seen passing boxes of appliances from a collapsed store; in other videos, similar boxes are seen on car roofs or on motorcycles. There are also accusations circulating on social media against police and military personnel allegedly stealing from homes or even from the deceased.
The branch of a major pharmacy chain was looted, as well as supermarkets and other businesses. Some attribute this situation to the so-called "disaster tourism," while others blame it on hunger and need that arise from losing everything in a country in chronic crisis.
Commission to inspect housing
The Head of State announced the immediate creation of a commission to inspect homes and other types of infrastructure that suffered damages, reports Efe.
A traffic light system using green, yellow, and red colors will be used as a reference to determine habitability conditions, she explained.
According to official figures, there are 189 buildings with total damages and 585 with partial damages, as well as 38 hospitals, 44 shopping centers, and 1,645 structures of "another kind" affected.