Venezuela Earthquake: UN Dispatches 10,000 Body Bags as Death Toll Looms

As rescue efforts continue five days after the earthquake, NASA satellite imagery reveals nearly 59,000 destroyed buildings, dwarfing official government figures and raising fears of a mounting humanitarian crisis.

Conflicting Data on Destruction

NASA scientists estimated on Monday, based on satellite imagery, that nearly 59,000 buildings were destroyed or completely collapsed due to the June 24 earthquake, primarily in the coastal state of La Guaira. Conversely, authorities in Caracas reported only 855 damaged buildings, with 189 having collapsed.

Ongoing Search and Rescue Operations

Five days after the cataclysm, Venezuelan and international rescue teams, along with local volunteers, are still working to find survivors. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez reported on Monday that a 21-year-old was pulled from the rubble.

The President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, announced that his country’s rescue team located a 44-year-old trapped in a collapsed building and established contact to provide water. Over the weekend, rescuers successfully extracted dozens of survivors, including two 11-year-old boys.

Grim Outlook and Morgue Capacity

Experts warn that survival chances diminish every hour and the death toll will likely rise significantly. UN coordinator in Venezuela, Gianluca Rampolla, confirmed the organization agreed with authorities to deliver 10,000 body bags, noting that the number of missing persons is estimated at over 50,000.

The independent portal Efecto Cocuyo reported that dozens of bodies are being stored in cold storage units at the port in La Guaira due to the local hospital morgue being completely overwhelmed, with over 100 bodies lying on the ground on Monday.

Government Response and Public Outcry

Discontent is growing in Venezuela over the government’s response to the disaster. Years of economic collapse and authoritarian rule have severely weakened the healthcare system and the country’s capacity to manage natural disasters.

Residents in affected areas reported a lack of state aid and heavy equipment, with some forced to clear rubble with their bare hands. There are reports of authorities hindering rescue operations and the work of journalists.

Restrictions on International Aid and Media

The National Press Workers Union (SNTP) criticized the regime’s decision to ban foreign correspondents from La Guaira for 48 hours, citing sanitation and the need for silence during rescues. The SNTP argued that silencing reporting does not resolve the crisis.

Although over 2,000 rescuers arrived in Venezuela, others were blocked. The Austrian organization Samariterbund reported that a German-Austrian team ready to depart on a German Armed Forces plane was denied entry by Venezuelan authorities.