Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 920, thousands missing

The death toll from the double earthquake that struck Venezuela on Wednesday has risen to 920, with 3,360 injured, according to Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly. Source: elcaribedr The quakes, of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, are among the strongest in over a century. The UN's humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher estimated that more than 50,000 people are missing, suggesting the toll could rise significantly. Source: euronewses

International response

Seventeen countries and the UN have dispatched aid planes, with heavy machinery urgently needed to rescue those still trapped. Source: elcaribedr Spain has sent a military aircraft with emergency crews and a €1 million aid package, and confirms 14 Spanish citizens are under the rubble. However, sources differ on fatalities: elcaribedr reports five Spanish dead and 119 missing, while Euronews reports four dead and 106 missing. Source: elcaribedr, euronewses

On the ground

In La Guaira, the main airport remains closed, hindering aid. Families dig through ruins in search of loved ones. Source: euronewses