1,600 FOREIGN RESCUE PERSONNEL ARRIVE TO JOIN SEARCH FOR MISSING

CARACAS, JUNE 27 /SRNA/ – The Venezuelan government announced today that 1,600 members of foreign rescue teams have arrived in the country to assist in the search for survivors following the devastating earthquake that has claimed more than 900 lives.

At the same time, authorities tightened access to the hardest-hit area, Reuters reported.

Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, said in an overnight address on state television that rescue teams from 10 more countries would join the operation and that 14,000 military personnel and police officers had been deployed to La Guaira.

Rescue workers have been deployed at multiple locations in La Guaira and the capital, Caracas. However, in some areas, families and neighbours continued searching for missing people in the rubble on their own yesterday, at times digging with their bare hands.

Foreign Ministry official Oliver Blanco said Venezuela had received 17 flights carrying rescue teams over the past several hours, with another 25 flights expected to arrive within the next 24 hours.

Residents and volunteers in La Guaira, a popular coastal resort where at least 100 buildings, including many apartment blocks, were destroyed or damaged, have for days been pointing to a shortage of heavy machinery and the limited presence of official emergency services.

Authorities closed the road between La Guaira and nearby Caracas last night, saying heavy traffic was preventing ambulances and rescue vehicles from reaching affected areas quickly.

Power outages continued near the earthquake's epicentre in Morón, while electricity remained completely cut off in La Guaira. Power supply has begun to be restored in other areas.

Electricity has now been restored to 60 per cent of consumers.

Although the Venezuelan government said that hundreds of people remain missing or trapped, more than 54,000 people are listed as missing on a website operated by the Venezuelan opposition.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela could ultimately claim more than 10,000 lives, making them among the deadliest earthquakes in Latin America over the past century.

The United Nations estimates that nearly seven million people may have been affected, with direct material damage amounting to approximately $6.7 billion.

Witnesses told Reuters that looting had also been reported at several locations in La Guaira.

Venezuelan Energy Minister Paula Henao said the country's oil production had not been affected by the earthquakes, adding that fuel distribution would continue.

Venezuela was struck on Wednesday, June 24, by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. According to the latest official figures, the death toll has risen to 920, while another 3,360 people have been injured.