Death toll from Venezuela earthquakes rises to 920

The death toll from the powerful twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday has risen to 920, with 3,360 people injured, Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said on Friday, reported Xinhua.

Another 172 people remained trapped under debris and 3,007 had been displaced by the disaster, Rodriguez added.

The earthquakes damaged 383 buildings, including 13 hospitals and 25 commercial centers, he said. Another 1,002 facilities sustained varying degrees of damage.

Meanwhile, Technical and humanitarian assistance from more than a dozen countries has begun arriving in Venezuela to help victims and support early recovery efforts after Wednesday's devastating earthquakes.

Rescue teams and specialized equipment have arrived in Venezuela since Thursday from countries including the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Qatar, as well as from the UN system.

Spain's solidarity delegation includes 59 members of the Military Emergency Unit, two army engineers and eight canine units specialized in rescue operations. The Spanish teams will be deployed in La Guaira state in north-central Venezuela, the area hardest hit by the quakes.

A delegation of 300 rescue and salvage specialists from El Salvador has also arrived in Venezuela, and 50 tonnes of humanitarian aid and machinery were sent.

Rescue delegations from the Dominican Republic and Ecuador are also in Venezuela to help with rescue, salvage and civil protection work.

Colombia's assistance to Venezuela includes 63 rescuers, search dogs and 12 tonnes of specialized equipment for search operations.

Mexico's famed "Topos" rescue teams have also arrived in Venezuela on two separate flights, along with 4.4 tonnes of tools, materials and equipment, as well as 2.7 tonnes of medical supplies.

The U.S. Embassy in Venezuela said Friday that specialized search and rescue teams, 80 experts and 12 trained dogs have arrived in the country.

Qatari authorities announced the launch of a humanitarian air bridge to Venezuela, including "family tents, field hospitals and shelter materials to support affected families."

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also announced the imminent arrival in Venezuela of a field hospital, 100 solar-powered water purifiers, medicine, and medical supplies for surgeries.

Brazilian humanitarian aid, including specialized personnel, is expected to arrive in Venezuela on two flights between Friday and Saturday.

Aid from France and Portugal is also expected to arrive in Venezuela in the coming hours. France is sending a detachment of the Military Civil Security Brigade, specialized in rescue operations in collapsed environments, while Portugal is sending a delegation of 60 firefighter-rescuers.

As of Friday afternoon, 871 international rescue workers were assisting relief operations in the country, Rodriguez said.

Meanwhile, as of midday Friday, over 50,000 people remain missing, according to a website established to receive reports of people still unaccounted for.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said Friday that La Guaira state, which was hard hit by Wednesday's twin earthquakes, had been placed under military control to facilitate rescue efforts and ensure security.

"We want to tell everyone that La Guaira state is now fully militarized and fully under the control of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces," Rodriguez said during a televised briefing.

Rodriguez said acting president Delcy Rodriguez had ordered the measure to ensure public safety, maintain internal order and facilitate rescue operations by Venezuelan emergency responders and international rescue teams.

He said the majority of rescue personnel were operating in Caraballeda, Macuto, Los Corales and Catia La Mar -- areas that had been severely affected by the earthquakes.

Rodriguez called on the public not to travel to La Guaira to avoid congesting evacuation routes and routes used for transporting rescue teams and equipment.

He also called on Venezuelans to donate supplies including water, food, mattresses, clothing, blankets, light and heavy equipment including earthmoving machinery, through collection centers set up in Caracas.

He thanked thousands of volunteers, officials and rescue organizations for their tireless efforts to save lives and assist those affected.