The death toll from Venezuela's devastating back-to-back earthquakes has surged to at least 589, acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced early Friday, with thousands still missing and frantic search-and-rescue operations ongoing.
Rodríguez made the announcement flanked by government and military officials as she welcomed the arrival of international rescue crews. She said the state of La Guaira had been hardest hit and had been placed under military control to coordinate survivor searches and the distribution of food and water. "We are going to rescue the people who are trapped," she said. "We are working tirelessly on this task."
