UN Sends 10,000 Body Bags as Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Expected to Rise

Email:online@newsofbahrain.com

United Nations : The United Nations said it is sending 10,000 body bags to Venezuela amid fears that the death toll from last week's devastating twin earthquakes could rise well beyond the current official count.

More than 1,700 people have been confirmed dead after the back-to-back earthquakes destroyed entire neighbourhoods in the coastal state of La Guaira. Tens of thousands of people are also reported missing.

UN Resident Coordinator for Venezuela Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro said the organisation was preparing for the possibility of more fatalities but expressed hope that the final death toll would remain below the number of body bags being delivered.

He said the decision to procure the body bags was made in coordination with Venezuelan authorities and reflected contingency planning rather than a confirmed estimate of the number of victims.

Rampolla del Tindaro also highlighted the international relief effort, saying 27 countries have deployed more than 2,000 rescue workers and support personnel, along with over 160 search dogs, to assist in search and recovery operations.