The human toll of Wednesday's twin earthquakes in Venezuela is taking on an increasingly international dimension, with the foreign ministries of at least six countries confirming the deaths of their nationals in the disaster. The overall death toll stands at 920, with approximately 50,000 people still listed as missing.
Portugal has reported 28 victims of Portuguese nationality or origin, along with 85 missing, in updated figures released by its foreign ministry. Spain's Foreign Minister Manuel Albares said on Saturday that at least five Spanish nationals had been killed, with the number of those reported missing rising to 133 and 14 known to be trapped under rubble. Spain, which has pledged €1 million in aid, had 147,000 nationals living in Venezuela as of 1 January, according to official figures.
China's state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday, citing information from the Chinese embassy in Caracas, that seven Chinese nationals were among the victims. The embassy published a statement on its official WeChat account urging Chinese citizens in Venezuela to take precautions against aftershocks.
Brazil's foreign ministry said on Thursday that two of its citizens, a man and a woman, had died in the disaster. Brazil shares a border with Venezuela, and the ministry said consular assistance had been provided to the victims' relatives. Chile's foreign ministry announced on Friday evening that one Chilean national had been killed. Italy's foreign ministry confirmed the death of a man of around 50, born in Caracas and holding both Italian and Venezuelan nationality, who was killed when a building collapsed in the hardest-hit area of La Guaira. Italy estimates there are approximately 170,000 Italian passport holders living in Venezuela.
Source: AMNA
