Thousands of people remain missing after two back-to-back major earthquakes in Venezuela this week killed at least 589, while the US has lifted more sanctions on Caracas to ease recovery efforts.
At least 3,000 people were wounded in the 7.5- and 7.2-magnitude earthquakes the evening of 24 June, up from initial estimates provided by the interim government. Energy infrastructure was mostly spared, with crude and natural gas production sites concentrated farther away from the most-affected areas.
The US on Thursday relaxed additional sanctions on Venezuela for financial transactions "related to earthquake relief efforts", although the license from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control does not unblock property otherwise frozen. The US is also sending $150mn in assistance through several non-profit organizations, the State Department said.
The earthquake came as Venezuela is still unable to access many forms of international finance because of its long history of defaults and international santions. The World Bank and IMF only reopened communications with Venezuela in April.
Meanwhile, teams of emergency workers from the US arrived Thursday night at hardest-hit city of La Guaira, along with teams from Mexico, El Salvador and other countries, authorities confirmed.
In La Guaira, the Venezuelan military on Friday rescued two girls from the pancaked first floor of the Residencias Mediterranee building, evidence of an intensifying rescue and recovery effort. A family has been located in the third floor and efforts are underway to extract them, survivors told Argus on Friday morning.
