Venezuela earthquake injuries surpass 12,000, Indonesian citizens confirmed safe

Caracas (ANTARA) - Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez announced that the number of injured from the devastating earthquake in Venezuela has now surpassed 12,000 people. “All healthcare services in Venezuela are currently deployed to treat the 12,400 injured,” Rodriguez said on Thursday (2/7) local time. In addition to the soaring number of injuries, she also conveyed the tragic news that most officials in the La Guaira region perished due to the disaster. Furthermore, she noted that at least 189 buildings completely collapsed as a result of the earthquake’s tremors. Meanwhile, according to the latest data from Venezuelan authorities, the death toll has reached 2,295 people. On Wednesday, 24 June, two powerful earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 struck the country on the northern coast of South America in quick succession. The foreshock, measuring 7.2, occurred at 18:04 local time (GMT-4) and was followed by the main 7.5 magnitude earthquake 39 seconds later. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that no Indonesian citizens (WNI) were victims in the incident. The Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Caracas is also continuously monitoring the situation of Indonesian nationals. “KBRI Caracas has confirmed that all three registered Indonesian citizens in Venezuela are safe, unharmed, and in good health,” said Heni Hamidah, Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to ANTARA’s questions in Jakarta on Thursday (25/6). Additionally, Heni confirmed that all staff at the Indonesian Embassy in Caracas are also safe and unharmed. “The KBRI Caracas office building and the ambassador’s residence did not sustain any significant structural damage,” she said.