Venezuela earthquakes: death toll rises again to more than 1,400

The ⁠death toll ⁠in ⁠the twin ​earthquakes which struck ⁠ Venezuela earlier ⁠this ​week ‌has ‌risen to ‌1,430, according to one of the country’s top politicians Jorge Rodríguez. Another 3,200 ​people were injured ⁠and 3,100 ​left homeless ​by the ​disaster, ​the National Assembly president added, speaking ​on ​state television. Rescuers are still searching for survivors after the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes struck within a minute of each other on Wednesday evening, flattening buildings in the north of the country. At least 68,900 people have been reported unaccounted for by their families. Many civilians in La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas, have been using shovels and their bare hands to dig through the rubble of collapsed buildings. On Saturday, the UN estimated that the quakes caused $6.7bn in damage, equivalent to 6% of Venezuela’s GDP. The preliminary assessment accounts for losses to assets including housing but does not cover wider economic disruption, the UN Development Programme said in a statement. Venezuelan soldiers unload aid from a helicopter in La Guaira, one of the worst-affected areas. Photograph: Matias Delacroix/AP The South American country’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez , said on state television that more than 14,000 members of the military and police were patrolling affected areas, where access has been blocked and special permits are required to enter. …