Following twin earthquakes in Venezuela, aid organizations are projecting as many as 100,000 victims, according to initial estimates released Thursday morning by the Austrian Red Cross.
The actual extent of the damage remains unclear, partly because many residents were at home at the time of the seismic events due to a national holiday. While the figures are tentative, preliminary counts have confirmed slightly more than thirty fatalities and approximately 700 injuries. Nevertheless, images from the capital, Caracas, and other areas show widespread destruction and numerous collapsed buildings.
In the aftermath, residents reported that a ban on social media platforms, including X/Twitter, was lifted overnight. Initially, it was uncertain whether this was due to damaged IT infrastructure or if the restriction had been deliberately removed following the declaration of a state of emergency to improve communication flow.
Meanwhile, transitional President Delcy Rodriguez utilized X/Twitter herself to address the flood of condolences and offers of aid from around the world, specifically thanking the US President. “We thank President Donald Trump and his government for remaining in constant contact with the Venezuelan authorities and for extending support and solidarity to the people in the face of this tragedy that has brought us so much suffering,” Rodriguez stated. She added that Venezuela will never forget the hand extended to its people during these difficult times.
