Venezuela is shaken again: A 5.6-magnitude earthquake hits Aragua, rescue is still in progress
Earlier this week, Venezuela was hit by another 5.6-magnitude earthquake, as the Latin American country continues to be reeling from the effects of devastating twin earthquakes that have killed more than 1,430 people and injured thousands more.According to Reuters, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) said that the latest earthquake hit the Aragua region of Venezuela. The new wave of earthquakes comes as rescue teams continue to search for survivors amid widespread damage caused by earlier quakes.The latest quake follows powerful 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes that hit Venezuela on Wednesday, triggering hundreds of aftershocks, flattening the country and forcing thousands to flee their homes.Venezuelan authorities said the death toll from the two earthquakes has climbed to 1,430, with another 3,200 injured and about 3,100 residents homeless.Officials also said hundreds of people were still missing or trapped under collapsed buildings, while the opposition claimed more than 54,000 people were unaccounted for through an online missing persons database.The government said about 1,600 foreign rescue workers have arrived to assist with search and rescue efforts, and rescue teams from multiple countries are expected to join the operation.Rescue efforts remain focused on La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit coastal cities, where residents and volunteers complain of shortages of heavy equipment and delays in reaching collapsed buildings.Authorities are also restricting access to affected areas to ensure emergency vehicles can move freely.According to the United Nations, nearly 7 million people may have been affected by the disaster, with direct economic losses estimated at approximately $6.7 billion.Although power outages remain near the epicenter of the earthquake and in parts of La Guaira, power supply has gradually been restored to some affected areas. The Venezuelan government said that about 60% of the power in the affected areas has been restored.
