Three Italian-Venezuelan five people died, five were injured, and 35 are missing after the earthquakes that hit Venezuela on Wednesday (24). The Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, released the balance sheet this Friday (26), during a mission in Dubrovnik.
Tajani stated that approximately 150.000 Italian citizens are registered residents of Venezuela, which keeps the exact number uncertain. "Therefore, we don't know exactly what will be found under the rubble," the minister said.
The tremors were the strongest in the country in over 100 years. Two aftershocks struck the northern region of Venezuela, where Caracas is located, and brought down buildings in the capital and its surroundings.
The Venezuelan government's overall tally, updated this Friday, indicates 920 dead and 2.980 injured. Authorities also report 250 buildings completely destroyed or damaged.
The number of victims could rise. The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs estimates more than 50.000 missing, and both the agency and the United States Geological Survey assess that the real impact may exceed official records, due to the population density of the affected areas.
The Italian community in the country
Venezuela is home to one of the largest Italian communities in Latin America. The 150.000 citizens mentioned by Tajani are now at the center of the searches, as many live in the most affected areas.
The Venezuelan government has announced the militarization of the state of La Guaira, a coastal area near Caracas and one of the hardest hit. The region is part of the so-called "disaster zone."
Brazil and the United States are among the countries sending rescue teams. International aid began arriving this Friday, while teams attempt to locate missing persons and extract people from the rubble.
Source: g1 and statement by Minister Antonio Tajani.
