Venezuela earthquake death toll rose to nearly 1,500. The United Nations has estimated that some 50,000 people are missing after twin earthquakes that rattled Venezuela on Wednesday. Looting, theft in Venezuela's earthquake zone are adding to the tragedy and people's misery. Over 750 buildings collapsed in Venezuela due to the twin earthquakes that struck the country this week, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez reported Sunday.
"There are 774 collapsed buildings, 189 of them total collapses," Rodriguez said as he presented the latest damage assessment from the quakes that struck Wednesday.
Outbreaks of Looting, Theft
Not even the cables inside the small store remained intact. The earth had barely stopped shaking when the looting and theft began in the area most devastated by Venezuela's double earthquake. Outbreaks of looting have hit the coastal state of La Guaira -- neighboring Caracas -- much of which is now a vast mountain of rubble after Wednesday's disaster.
In a video circulating on social media, a group of people pass around boxes of appliances from a collapsed store. Other videos appear to show looted boxes perched on car roofs or on top of motorcycles.
Online accusations are also circulating against police and military personnel who critics allege have been stealing from homes or even from the dead.
A branch of a major pharmacy chain was ransacked, as were supermarkets and other businesses, residents say.
Some attribute this situation to so-called disaster opportunism but others point to the hunger and destitution of those who have lost everything in a country already in chronic crisis before the quakes.
Venezuelans have not hidden their anger at the slow and meager aid coming from the authorities after the twin earthquakes that killed nearly 1,500 so far and left tens of thousands more missing.
They are demanding not only rescue efforts in La Guaira but also improved security and assistance with food, water, and medicine. The government militarized the state and restricted access to those with a safe-conduct pass that must be obtained from the military in Caracas.
Some have been siphoning fuel from cars; others are impersonating firefighters to take advantage of the disaster. There are reports of all kinds of crimes. A video circulating on social media shows a man expelling a soldier and another official from his home after finding them scavenging around.
After one of the Farmatodo pharmacy chain's branches was looted in La Guaira, the company cleaned the premises with the help of the community. A primary care clinic now operates there.
