The earthquake in Venezuela leaves four Spaniards dead, among them Isabel Jara, the delegate of the Government of the Canary Islands in the country

The Government of the Canary Islands confirmed this Friday the death of Isabel Jara, delegate of the autonomous Executive in Venezuela, after the collapse of the building where she resided in La Guaira, one of the areas most affected by the earthquakes that have shaken the north of the country. Jara, known as Chabela by the Canarian community in Venezuela, had been missing since the first hours after the double earthquake.

The spokesperson for the Canarian Government, Alfonso Cabello, has extended his condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues, and has also sent a message of hope to those who are still searching for their loved ones. The autonomous Executive has decreed official mourning for the rest of this Friday and the days June 27, 28, and 29, with flags at half-mast in the public buildings of the Canarian Administration.

Jara's death raises the provisional number of deceased Spaniards to four, according to the latest data communicated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. Foreign Affairs also keeps 99 Spaniards unaccounted for and has confirmed that another four have been located under the rubble, while rescue teams try to access them. Among the Spanish victims is also Alazne Solabarrieta Lecea, a Spanish-Venezuelan of Basque origin who died in Caracas.

The overall balance in Venezuela has also worsened. The country's authorities now place the number of dead at 589 and the injured at 2,980 after the two earthquakes of magnitude 7.5 and 7.2. La Guaira concentrates the most serious damage, with collapsed buildings, homeless families, and search efforts advancing against the clock amidst rubble, lack of machinery, and severely damaged communications.

Spanish aid is already on the ground

Spain has mobilized an aircraft from the Air and Space Army with personnel from the Military Emergency Unit (UME), firefighters from the Immediate Response Team of the Community of Madrid (ERICAM), health workers, canine units, and personnel from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). The aircraft could not land in Caracas due to the closure of Maiquetía airport and did so in Valencia, from where the teams are moving to the most affected areas.

AECID has also activated an initial emergency aid of one million euros through the International Federation of the Red Cross. The Government keeps consular channels open to locate Spanish residents or those passing through Venezuela, a particularly sensitive task for the Canary Islands due to its historical ties with the country and the large island community that still lives in the so-called eighth island.