Venezuela's Rodriguez Denies Social Unrest as Earthquake Death Toll Exceeds 3,000

On Sunday, Delcy Rodriguez, the interim president of Venezuela, asserted that the nation would avoid social turmoil in the aftermath of the twin earthquakes on June 24, which resulted in over 3,000 fatalities and numerous individuals unaccounted for. This calamity, among the most severe in Latin America, led to the collapse of numerous structures and left many homeless, especially in the coastal region of La Guaira, north of Caracas. During a military event for independence day, Rodriguez emphasized, "What we have here is deep social solidarity; there will be no social unrest." Official statistics released on Sunday reported 3,342 deaths and over 16,700 injuries. Critics have deemed the US-backed government's response insufficient prior to the arrival of international assistance. In contrast, Rodriguez highlighted the mobilization of thousands of public officials and rescue teams. Meanwhile, exiled Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, who is Rodriguez's primary opponent, made her own appeal.