Venezuela’s authorities officially denied reports of survivor rescues at the OPP26 structure La Guaira state this Thursday, as the nation continues grappling with the aftermath of the devastating double earthquake that struck on June 24.
The false information circulated during the early morning hours, claiming that two teenagers were being rescued from the rubble of a residential building that collapsed during the seismic event.
Civil Protection swiftly issued a statement categorically denying these reports and warning against the dissemination of unverified claims.
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“Every man and woman that makes up our multidisciplinary protection and safety team remains working full-time until all avenues are exhausted,” the agency stated in an official communiqué.
“We will remain alongside our people in the field for as long as the situation demands. Any information or updates regarding these operations will be communicated in a timely, transparent, and exclusive manner through official channels and spokespersons,” the institution further emphasized.
Through its social media platforms, Civil Protection urged “the population and the media not to replicate rumors that play with the hope of Venezuelan families.” The warning reflects growing concern over the spread of misinformation during the ongoing emergency, which has caused significant emotional distress among relatives still waiting for news about missing loved ones.
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Una publicación compartida de Proteccion Civil Venezuela (@pcivil_venezuela)
Text reads: “Attention! Official statement of the National Directorate for Civil Protection and Disaster Management: We inform the community that the news spread this morning about alleged rescues of survivors in the OPP 26 structure in the parish of Caraballeda is totally false. We urge the population and the media not to repeat rumors that play on the hopes of Venezuelan families. Our multidisciplinary Civil Protection team remains in the field full-time. We will not rest or stop search and rescue until the last possible route in the affected area is exhausted. The truth is our commitment.”
Rescue Operations Intensify
Despite the denial, authorities confirmed that search and rescue operations in affected areas will continue indefinitely. The official death toll from the earthquake has risen to 5,398 fatalities, while the number of injured remains at 16,740. Rescue teams have successfully pulled 6,462 survivors from the rubble since the disaster began.
The Venezuelan government reported on Wednesday, through its official update corresponding to July 22, that 128,324 families have received state assistance. Currently, 107 temporary camps remain operational, housing 23,335 people, while the total number of displaced individuals stands at 17,907.
Infrastructure damage has been severe, with 856 buildings affected, of which 190 completely collapsed. The government has deployed an extensive emergency response operation involving 30,989 active personnel, 31,745 volunteers, and 2,278 international rescuers working tirelessly across affected regions.
As part of the humanitarian response, authorities have distributed 10,964,199 metric tons of food and 44,557,208 liters of drinking water. Medical teams have provided care to 44,298 patients since the earthquake struck. The official report also confirmed that 1,463 aftershocks have been recorded since the main seismic event, keeping the population on constant alert and complicating rescue efforts.
The Civil Protection Directorate reiterated its commitment to transparency, promising that all verified information will be shared exclusively through official channels. The agency’s firm stance against misinformation aims to maintain public trust and prevent emotional manipulation of families still hoping to find their relatives alive amid the rubble of the disaster that has profoundly shaken the South American nation.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.