The number of Portuguese citizens and Luso-descendants killed in the dual earthquakes that struck Venezuela one week ago has risen to 102, while 57 people remain missing, Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) announced today.
Among the 102 deceased victims, 88 held dual Venezuelan nationality. The toll includes 18 children and 84 adults. The updated figures reflect an increase from the previous balance, which stood at 100 confirmed dead and 59 listed as missing or unreachable.
According to the latest official figures, the catastrophic earthquakes that hit Venezuela on June 24 have caused at least 3,685 deaths and left 16,740 people injured across the country.
In response to the disaster, multiple nations—including Portugal and several European Union member states—have deployed specialized search and rescue teams to assist local emergency forces.
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The operational base for the Portuguese disaster response mission has been established in Catia La Mar, located in the state of La Guaira. The region has a high concentration of Portuguese nationals and Luso-descendants and stands as one of the areas worst hit by the destruction.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the disaster was triggered by two powerful earthquakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5. The tremors struck less than a minute apart, with epicenters located roughly 200 kilometers from the capital city of Caracas, and have since been followed by hundreds of aftershocks.
