Venezuela quake death toll reaches 1,450 as rescue work goes on

The death toll from twin earthquakes that hit Venezuela on June 24 had climbed to at least 1,450 as of June 27 as foreign rescue teams poured into the hardest-hit state of La Guaira.

“We must report that the number of fatalities has reached 1,450 people, women and men who lost their lives as a result of the most brutal natural catastrophe that our country has ever suffered in its history,” said interim President Delcy Rodriguez.

Some 3,150 people were injured and 12,721 displaced while 774 buildings have collapsed, she said.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said on Sunday that rescue teams remained active trying to find survivors.

So far this weekend, the government said at least 33 people had been rescued by Saturday evening, including several children, while tens of thousands remained unaccounted for