Tragic consequences for 7 million people in Venezuela from the powerful earthquakes, according to the initial assessment by the United Nations.

Direct damage from the earthquakes is estimated to potentially reach 6.7 billion dollars. Meanwhile, neighboring countries are sending humanitarian aid to Venezuela, including the U.S., which today landed U.S. aircraft carrying emergency supplies in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.

Initial estimates from the UN

“Up to 6.76 million people may have been affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela,” including two million in Caracas alone, noted the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM), clarifying that its estimates are based on available demographic data and damage assessments.

At the same time, it highlights “the potentially severe humanitarian impact of the disaster.” It should be noted that entire buildings collapsed in La Guaira, on the northern outskirts of Caracas, due to the devastating earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes last Wednesday.

1,600 foreign rescue workers in Venezuela

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government announced today that 1.600 members of rescue teams from foreign countries have arrived in the country to assist in the search for survivors of the twin deadly earthquakes.

Residents and volunteers in La Guaira, a popular tourist destination where at least 100 buildings, many of which multi-story apartment buildings, were destroyed or severely damaged, have been complaining for days about a lack of heavy equipment and a limited presence of government officials.

“In the last few hours, Venezuela has received 17 flights carrying more than 1,600 rescue team members, and 25 additional flights are expected to arrive in the next 24 hours,” said Foreign Ministry official Oliver Blanco.

““We thank the international community for its support and solidarity during these uncertain times for the citizens of Venezuela,” Blanco added in a post on X early this morning.

Although the government says hundreds of people are missing or trapped, more than 54,000 names have been registered as missing on a website created by the country’s opposition.