Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Jumps To 589, Nearly 3,000 Injured

MEXICO CITY, June 26 (Bernama-dpa) -- The death toll from the back-to-back earthquakes that hit Venezuela has jumped to 589, with 2,980 people injured, acting President Delcy Rodríguez said on Friday, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

Two powerful earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 shook northern and central Venezuela on Wednesday evening, just 39 seconds apart.

The damage is particularly widespread in the state of La Guaira on the Caribbean coast, but buildings have also collapsed in the capital, Caracas, and in other regions.

With rescue operations ongoing, authorities fear that scores more people could still be trapped under the rubble. International aid teams are deploying to the South American country to assist in the search and rescue efforts.

Late on Thursday, the Health Ministry had put the death toll at 235.

-- BERNAMA-dpa