UN secures 10,000 body bags as Venezuela quake death toll rises to 1,719, with more deaths possible

[Financial News]  The death toll from the series of powerful earthquakes that struck north-central Venezuela has climbed above 1,700 on the fifth day since the disaster. As the 72-hour "golden time" for rescuing survivors has passed, the United Nations said it is preparing for the worst by securing 10,000 body bags, amid concerns that the number of victims could rise further.

On the 29th local time, Jorge Rodríguez, President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, announced that the death toll from the twin quakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that hit on the 24th had reached 1,719, according to foreign media including The New York Times and the BBC, as well as the UN. The number of injured stood at 5,034, while 15,866 people were displaced.
Venezuelan authorities said about 12,000 people have been evacuated so far, but the number of missing persons has not yet been officially confirmed. However, local reports suggest that as many as 50,000 people may be missing, raising concerns that the scale of the damage could grow even larger.


The UN is preparing not only for rescue operations but also for the possibility of a large number of fatalities.
At a video briefing at UN Headquarters in New York, Gianluca Rampolla, the UN resident humanitarian coordinator in Venezuela, said, "We have decided, in cooperation with the Venezuelan government, to secure 10,000 body bags." He added, "It is a very tragic assumption, but I sincerely hope the actual number of victims will be lower than that."
At the scene, more than 2,000 rescuers and more than 160 search dogs from 27 countries have been divided into more than 40 teams and are continuing search operations.
It is generally known that the chances of survival drop sharply 72 hours after an earthquake, but the UN said rescue efforts are being expanded as survivors continue to be found, including seven more people pulled alive from the rubble recently.
The affected areas remain dangerous.
About 2,500 buildings have been damaged, mainly in La Guaira State and around the capital, Caracas, and many have completely collapsed. More than 500 to 600 aftershocks have occurred since the earthquake, and aftershocks of magnitude 5 or higher continue to be recorded.
In addition, heavy rain is forecast due to the influence of a tropical depression, raising the risk of further collapses, landslides, and flooding.
Rampolla said, "We are still operating in a very dangerous environment," adding, "We are simultaneously providing emergency medical support, food, drinking water, sanitation facilities, temporary shelter, and logistics assistance."

The UN is also stepping up efforts to help survivors recover from psychological trauma.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) plans to set up three support centers in the La Guaira area to provide medical aid, food, drinking water, and counseling.
Vanessa May, OCHA Venezuela Director, said, "Many people have lost not only their homes but also their sense of stability in life," adding, "Right now, warm comfort and a hug are needed just as urgently as food and medicine."
She added that many people are waiting to learn whether their family members are alive, while others have left loved ones behind in the rubble, stressing the need for long-term psychological support.
Once rescue operations are completed, the UN plans to conduct an emergency assessment of the affected areas and begin by restoring key facilities such as schools and hospitals.
After that, the reconstruction effort will move forward through debris removal, resettlement of displaced residents, and soil safety inspections.
May said, "Recovery will take a considerable amount of time," adding, "International attention and solidarity must continue not only in the early stages of the disaster, but also throughout the reconstruction process that follows."

y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter