Venezuela continues to live in a state of emergency following a series of powerful earthquakes that occurred last week. The situation in the affected regions remains critical: the death toll is rising, and life-support systems are on the verge of collapse. New data obtained through satellite monitoring paints a picture of a catastrophe that may be significantly larger than previously assumed.
Ruthless Statistics: Thousands of Victims and Missing Persons
According to the latest official data, the damage caused by the elements is measured in thousands of lives. As a result of two powerful seismic shocks, at least 1,943 people have died. More than 10,757 residents have sustained injuries of varying degrees of severity. Even more alarming is the status of tens of thousands of people who are considered missing. With a high degree of probability, they are trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings.
The UN Refugee and Migration Agency (IOM) has warned of a humanitarian catastrophe. According to their estimates, up to 6.8 million people could be affected by the consequences of the natural disaster. Millions of people are in urgent need of housing, clean water, functioning sewage systems, medical assistance, and essential items.
The Gap Between Official Data and Satellite Analysis
Assessing the scale of destruction has caused serious disagreements between official authorities and independent researchers. On Monday, the head of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodriguez, stated that as a result of the earthquakes, 855 buildings were damaged, of which 189 completely collapsed.
However, these figures appear incomparably modest against the backdrop of data obtained from space. As The Guardian notes, the initial assessment of NASA satellite data points to the possibility of much more serious and large-scale destruction.
Researchers from Oregon State University analyzed high-resolution radar images and came to a shocking conclusion: approximately 58,870 buildings in the affected region were likely damaged or completely destroyed. This figure is hundreds of times higher than the official statements by the authorities.
Threat of Epidemics and Economic Damage
In addition to the physical destruction of infrastructure, the world is facing the threat of infectious disease outbreaks. The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm: overloaded and damaged medical facilities in Venezuela are struggling to cope with the influx of victims, creating ideal conditions for the spread of diseases.
Recall that the catastrophe occurred on June 24 in the north of the country. In one minute, the region experienced two powerful shocks: the first with a magnitude of 7.2, the second with a magnitude of 7.5. According to a preliminary UN assessment, the incidents affected nearly 2 million buildings, and the material damage is estimated at $6.7 billion.
