The earthquakes in Venezuela already leave 2,295 dead and 26 Spanish fatalities

Venezuela has once again updated the victim toll of the double earthquake that struck the north of the country last week. The president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, has raised this Wednesday the death toll to 2,295 dead, with 11,267 injured and more than 6,400 people rescued among the affected areas.

The tragedy also keeps Spain on edge. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, has confirmed 26 Spanish citizens deceased and 150 missing. In addition, at least 11 compatriots would still be located under the rubble, while emergency teams work with increasingly less margin to find survivors.

The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, has decreed seven days of national mourning starting this Wednesday for the victims of the earthquakes. In a statement, she affirmed that the country has "its soul torn" by the human losses and extended support to the families of the deceased, the injured, and the missing.

Spain sends a field hospital

Spain has reinforced its humanitarian aid this Wednesday with the departure from Madrid of an emergency medical team from the AECID. The device travels with a field hospital prepared to attend emergencies, primary care, psychological support, births, and basic surgical procedures in the most affected areas.

The team, made up of aid workers and health personnel, was seen off at Barajas by Queen Letizia and by Albares. The Government has also announced a new contribution of 300,000 euros to transport shelter material, one of the most urgent needs along with water, food, sanitation, and psychosocial support.

The situation on the ground remains critical. La Guaira continues to be one of the areas most affected by the collapses, with families remaining near collapsed buildings awaiting news of their missing loved ones. Spanish Red Cross has warned that many people are still exposed to the elements and that health risks are increasing due to the lack of safe water and adequate conditions in the shelters.

Rescue efforts continue, although the passing of days reduces the chances of finding people alive. Some international teams have already concluded their search mission due to the dwindling probabilities, while others continue working in areas where signals have still been detected under the rubble.

Venezuelan authorities have also reported the arrest of four police officers accused of appropriating money found among the ruins during rescue operations. The government has announced their expulsion from the force and their referral to the courts.

Venezuela has also enabled an official channel to receive international donations. The immediate priority is to attend to the injured, house displaced families, reinforce hospitals, and sustain a search that, one week after the earthquake, continues to yield increasingly grim figures.