Death Toll from Twin Venezuela Earthquakes Rises to 589 as Rescue Efforts Continue

The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to 589, with thousands more injured, as rescue teams and local residents continue searching through the rubble for survivors.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced the latest casualty figures during a press briefing on Friday attended by government and military officials.

Welcoming national and international rescue teams, Rodríguez said authorities were working tirelessly to rescue people trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

"We are working around the clock to save those still trapped under the debris," she said.

Despite ongoing rescue operations, experts have warned that the death toll is likely to rise as thousands of people remain unaccounted for.

According to Rodríguez, the twin earthquakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck on Wednesday evening, with La Guaira state suffering the most extensive damage.

Rescue teams are continuing search-and-rescue operations while also distributing food and drinking water to affected communities. Dozens of survivors have already been pulled from the rubble and reunited with their families.

Emergency responders described those reunions as the most rewarding part of their work, telling the acting president that bringing survivors back to their loved ones "gives us great joy."

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that nearly 6.8 million people across Venezuela could be affected by the disaster, including around 2 million residents in the capital, Caracas.

Loyce Pace, Regional Director for the Americas at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said many people remain afraid to return to their homes because of ongoing safety concerns.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that the final death toll from Wednesday's devastating earthquakes could exceed 10,000 based on its preliminary impact assessment.

Acting President Rodríguez has declared a nationwide state of emergency in response to the disaster.

Authorities have also temporarily closed Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas due to damage caused by the earthquakes.