UN mobilizes, coordinates relief efforts for Venezuela earthquakes: spokesman

The United Nations is mobilizing assistance and working closely with the government and aid partners in response to the Venezuela earthquake emergency, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, in a statement on Thursday.

According to the statement, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is orchestrating the deployment of urban search-and-rescue teams arriving from several countries.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep sadness over the deaths and damage from the earthquakes, while offering condolences to families of the victims and wishing the injured a speedy recovery, the statement said.

"As you can imagine, the secretary-general is deeply saddened by the loss of life and widespread destruction caused by the devastating earthquakes that hit Venezuela. He extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. Initial reports indicate significant destruction across several states, including in the capital Caracas. Many people have reportedly been killed and injured, while others remain trapped or are still missing. Critical infrastructure has been damaged and basic services have been disrupted," Dujarric said.

Guterres also expressed solidarity with Venezuela and welcomed support from UN member states at this critical moment, according to the statement.

"The United Nations in Venezuela, and the UN system as a whole, is mobilizing assistance and working closely with the government and our partners to support the response. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is facilitating the deployment of urban search-and-rescue teams. The secretary-general welcomes the offers of solidarity and support from member states at this critical time. The secretary-general expresses his solidarity with the people and government of Venezuela," Dujarric said.

The two powerful earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 and striking just 40 seconds apart late on Wednesday, were the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century and the deadliest in decades.

The earthquakes have killed at least 235 people and injured more than 4,300 others, the country's Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said on state television on Thursday evening.

UN mobilizes, coordinates relief efforts for Venezuela earthquakes: spokesman

The death toll from the powerful twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday had risen to 920, with 3,360 others injured, Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said on Friday.

Another 172 people still remained trapped under debris and 3,007 others had been displaced by the disaster, Rodriguez said.

The earthquakes damaged 383 buildings, including 13 hospitals and 25 commercial centers, he said, adding that another 1,002 facilities sustained varying degrees of damage.

As of Friday afternoon, 871 international rescue workers had arrived in the country to assist in relief operations, Rodriguez said.

Meanwhile, as of midday Friday, over 50,000 people remained missing, according to a website established to receive reports of people still unaccounted for. Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said Friday that La Guaira state, one of the worst-hit areas, had been placed under military control to facilitate rescue efforts and ensure security.

Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said that over 5,000 medical workers have been urgently mobilized nationwide to fully engage in the earthquake relief efforts, and in La Guaira state, the military has set up a field hospital to help ease local medical capacity pressures.

The Chinese embassy in Venezuela confirmed that seven Chinese citizens were among those killed in the earthquakes.

Search and rescuers are racing to reach survivors beneath the rubble before the “golden” window of time closes, and families are waiting desperately for news.

Death toll from Venezuela earthquakes rises to 920