Guyana: Venezuela Earthquakes Displace Several Guyanese Families

At least three families from Guyana have been displaced following a series of earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week, resulting in a rising death toll that has surpassed 1,700, according to Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd. The homes of these families were destroyed in the quakes.

Minister Todd stated, “We have three families who have been affected, and Guyana’s Ambassador Dr. Richard Van West-Charles will be visiting the community to assess the extent of the damage and determine if anyone is injured.” This visit is scheduled to take place in a community located on the outskirts of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.

In his remarks, Todd estimated that approximately 10 to 12 individuals from these families were impacted by the earthquakes that occurred last Wednesday. Fortunately, there have been no reported fatalities among the Guyanese residents in the affected area, which is home to a community of Caribbean nationals.

The United Nations reported that around 12,000 individuals have been displaced due to the earthquakes, with an additional 5,000 people sustaining injuries. Gianluca Rampolla, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Venezuela, mentioned that the Venezuelan government has agreed to procure 10,000 body bags in anticipation of a further increase in the death toll.

Seven states in Venezuela have been affected by the earthquakes, with the highest concentration of casualties occurring in La Guaira state and the Distrito Capital of Caracas. Approximately 2,500 structures have been damaged, many of which have completely collapsed. The situation remains precarious, with around 500 aftershocks recorded since the initial quakes, including a magnitude 5.2 tremor early Monday morning. Additionally, a tropical wave is expected to bring heavy rains to the impacted regions.

Mr. Rampolla emphasized, “We continue to operate in a high-risk environment.” In response to the crisis, the Guyana government, along with the private sector, is mobilizing at least 8,000 tonnes of supplies, including rice, non-perishable foods, pharmaceuticals, and other essential items, to be loaded onto a Guyanese vessel set to depart on Friday.

Source: demerarawaves.com