Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 164; PM Modi expresses condolences and offers support

New Delhi, June 25
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, today said that 164 people have died, and 971 others were injured after a pair of powerful quakes rocked the country.
The acting president had said earlier that at least 32 people had died after last night’s 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes and that the toll was expected to rise.
The quakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century and could be felt throughout the region. Buildings were evacuated in places as far away as Brazil’s Amazon, about 1,700 kilometres from Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.
Meanwhile, the President of Venezuela has acknowledged the solidarity expressed by India in the aftermath of the earthquakes, saying it is in keeping with the spirit of cooperation between the people of India and Venezuela in times of difficulty.
She welcomed the remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed his condolences and India’s willingness to support relief efforts in the wake of the severe consequences of the earthquakes.