Looting broke out in La Guaira, the Venezuelan coastal city worst affected by Wednesday’s devastating earthquakes, as rescue operations continued amid the wreckage, AFP journalists on the ground reported.
Twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude struck Venezuela’s northern coast on Wednesday evening, with La Guaira among the most severely damaged areas. According to AFP, the death toll had reached 235 by Thursday night, with around 4,300 people injured.
Dozens of multi-storey buildings collapsed in the city. The coastal highway was damaged in multiple sections, and many residential buildings were left uninhabitable. Two five-star hotels were completely destroyed.
AFP journalists witnessed looting taking place against a backdrop of rubble, anguished relatives searching for missing loved ones and the wail of rescue sirens.
Rescue teams and volunteers climbed the debris of collapsed buildings, calling out the names of those still missing. Continuing aftershocks made conditions increasingly dangerous, causing already-damaged structures to shake and groan with each tremor.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez visited the affected area and declared La Guaira a disaster zone. However, local residents complained that relief and rescue operations were moving too slowly relative to the scale of the disaster.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report