Venezuela twin quakes kill 1,430 as UN fears 50,000 missing
The death toll from a twin earthquake that struck Venezuela on Wednesday has risen to 1,430, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced.
The disaster also left 3,238 people injured, according to Rodríguez, who is the brother of Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez. Concurrently, the United Nations estimated that nearly 50,000 individuals remain missing following the disaster.
Economic devastation and satellite assessments
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced on June 27 that preliminary damages from the two earthquakes, both exceeding magnitude 7.0, total approximately €6.44 billion ($7 billion). This economic impact represents roughly 6% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Officials noted that the initial assessment relies primarily on satellite imagery and demographic data collected in the hours immediately following the seismic events.
The UNDP clarified that this initial figure excludes long-term infrastructure damage, broader macroeconomic consequences, and comprehensive reconstruction costs. Historical data indicates that the total financial impact of such disasters typically triples initial estimates.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
