Caracas, July 2: Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez has declared seven days of national mourning to honor the victims of a powerful earthquake that struck the country on June 24.
Rodríguez announced this decision via social media, stating, “In memory of the victims, I have decided to declare national mourning for seven days starting from Wednesday at 6:00 PM local time. In this time of deep sorrow, we embrace those affected by this tragedy and reaffirm our commitment to stand by and protect them.”
She further expressed, “The human toll from these devastating earthquakes has shattered the spirit of Venezuela.”
According to news agency Xinhua, as of Tuesday, the earthquake has claimed at least 1,943 lives, with over 10,500 individuals injured.
Previously, the Portuguese government also declared a national day of mourning for the victims in Venezuela, particularly for Portuguese citizens and those of Portuguese descent, to be observed on Sunday, July 5.
The latest updates from the Portuguese Foreign Ministry indicate that the death toll among Portuguese citizens and those of Portuguese descent has risen to 71, including 11 children, with 71 others still missing.
The official Lusa news agency reports that the Portuguese community in Venezuela is one of the largest among Portuguese diaspora communities worldwide, second only to Brazil in Latin America. Community estimates suggest that the population, including those of Portuguese descent, is approximately 1.2 million.
Last week, Jorge Rodríguez, the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, announced that La Guaira state has been placed under military control to assist with rescue efforts and ensure security. La Guaira was severely affected by the two recent earthquakes.
Rodríguez stated during a television briefing, “We want to inform everyone that La Guaira state is now fully under military control and is entirely managed by the Bolivarian National Armed Forces.”
He added that acting President Delcy Rodríguez had ordered this measure to ensure public safety, maintain internal order, and facilitate rescue operations by Venezuela’s emergency responders and international rescue teams.
Most rescue operations are currently focused in the areas of Carabobo, Macuto, Los Corales, and Catia La Mar, which were heavily impacted by the earthquake.
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