Lead
Venezuela’s US-backed acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, has mounted a forceful defence of her government’s response to the twin earthquakes that struck the country last week, rejecting accusations of negligence and insisting that authorities acted immediately. The official death toll remains uncertain, with figures varying widely across reports, and international rescue teams are beginning to wind down their operations.
Coverage comparison
Reporting on the disaster has highlighted both the government’s official stance and the growing anger among residents. The Guardian reported that Rodríguez, speaking during a military ceremony marking Venezuela’s independence day, said: “There will be no social unrest here – what we have here is deep social solidarity.” Thousands of public officials and rescue teams had been sent to help dig out victims and find survivors, she added. The Hindu also noted Rodríguez’s defence of the government’s response, describing her as the US-backed acting president.
In contrast, BBC reporting from La Guaira captured the frustration of families waiting by the roadside, who said precious days had been wasted before the rescue effort started. One man, Miguel Oscar Nunez, whose son was trapped under a collapsed building, said: “We need more support from authorities urgently to dig them out. It’s possible that the earthquake has not killed him, but can you imagine if he is killed because of the negligence of the authorities.” The Guardian also detailed an incident in which a grieving mother, Damely Yaneth Díaz, berated the son of former president Nicolás Maduro while he visited a damaged housing project, shouting: “I didn’t lose a kitchen! I lost a daughter!”
Key claims
- The twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday last week, according to BBC reporting, which said at least 1,700 people had been killed. The Guardian reported the official death toll had risen to 3,342 and the number of injured had passed 16,700, while The Hindu put the toll at 2,295 as of Wednesday and noted that the number was expected to rise. A Guardian article from later reporting cited the death toll as 4,490, with the number expected to rise significantly.
- Rescue teams from Venezuela and Colombia conducted operations, as reported by BBC. International rescue teams were wrapping up their search for survivors, according to The Guardian, which noted that families were still trying to dig out bodies of loved ones from the wreckage.
- The government-owned complex was one of the areas worst hit by the earthquakes, according to BBC reporting.
- The US has committed over $300 million and deployed some 900 military personnel to support rescue operations, as reported by The Hindu. This support was part of the broader US backing for the government.