The United Nations says it will provide Venezuela with 10,000 body bags as authorities assess the damage after back-to-back earthquakes in the coastal state of La Guaira. The quakes, which struck last week, flatten neighbourhoods and kill more than 1,700 people, while tens of thousands are reported missing. UN coordinator for Venezuela Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro says the figure is a planning “proxy indicator” agreed with Venezuelan authorities, rather than an estimate of the final death toll. He avoids speculation beyond the official numbers, adding that the eventual total could be higher than currently reported, though he hopes it will be smaller. Rampolla del Tindaro also points to international assistance already mobilised in response to the disaster. He says 27 countries have deployed more than 2,000 rescuers and personnel and that over 160 search dogs are involved. He adds that teams rescued seven people from rubble on Sunday, four days after the earthquakes struck.
UN to supply 10,000 body bags to Venezuela after deadly twin quakes
The United Nations says it will provide Venezuela with 10,000 body bags as authorities assess the damage after back-to-back earthquakes in the coastal state of La Guaira. The quakes, which struck last...
- The UN says it is providing 10,000 body bags to Venezuela for quake-related needs.
- The earthquakes in Venezuela occur back-to-back and affect La Guaira state.
- More than 1,700 people are reported killed, and tens of thousands are missing.
- UN coordinator Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro says the body-bag number is a planning figure, not a forecast.
- The UN reports 27 countries have deployed over 2,000 rescuers and personnel, including more than 160 search dogs.
Back-to-back earthquakes last week flattened entire neighborhoods, killing more than 1,700 people and leaving tens of thousands missing.
3 hours agoUNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP)—The United Nations, fearing more deaths from twin earthquakes in Venezuela, said Monday it will provide 10,000 body bags to the country -- though it hopes the eventual toll will not be that high. Back-to-back quakes last week flattened entire neighborhoods in the coastal state of La Guaira, killing more than 1,700 people and leaving tens of thousands missing. Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro, UN coordinator for Venezuela, declined to speculate beyond official figures, but said "we are definitely looking at a number that is higher than the one already reported." "I can give you a proxy indicator. We are procuring, and this is something that has been agreed with the authorities here, 10,000 body bags," Rampolla del Tindaro told a virtual news conference. "That is somehow applying assumption, and it's very sad, and we truly hope that actually the number is going to be smaller than that," he said. Rampolla del Tindaro also praised the international response, saying 27 countries have deployed more than 2,000 rescuers and personnel, with over 160 search dogs. He said these teams managed to rescue seven people from the rubble on Sunday, the fourth day after the disaster struck Venezuela.
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