At least 1,430 were killed during the twin earthquakes in Venezuela, with 47,073 people missing, according to Venezuelan authorities and human rights groups.
Jorge Rodriguez shared the latest estimates on the victims on Saturday, adding that another 3,200 people were injured and 3,100 left homeless by the disaster.
Additionally, Venezuelan opposition group Venezuela Reporta said that more than 47,000 people are still missing, while 5600 people who were thought missing have been located.
Pope Leo on Sunday expressed solidarity with people in Venezuela grappling with the devastating impact of twin earthquakes that struck the country earlier this week.
“I wish to express my closeness to the Venezuelan sisters and brothers affected by the recent earthquakes that caused numerous victims and injuries,” the pontiff said in Spanish before worshippers gathered for Sunday’s Angelus prayer in Rome.
Pope Leo has deep ties to South America
Before becoming pope, Leo spent decades as a missionary and bishop in Peru, a Spanish-speaking country. He is planning a major tour of southern Latin America in November that is expected to include Peru, Argentina and Uruguay.
The pontiff also expressed gratitude to rescuers and all those assisting Venezuelans in the aftermath of the disaster.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on X that the European Union had mobilized 5 million euros ($5.9 million) in emergency assistance for affected communities in Venezuela.
Several Eurpean member states rapidly deploying search-and-rescue teams to Venezuela
Kallas said she had spoken with Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, to express Europe’s solidarity with the Venezuelan people.
“We have activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, with several member states rapidly deploying search-and-rescue teams, firefighters and medical personnel,” Kallas said.
The EU’s Copernicus satellite system is helping map the damage and direct assistance to the areas most in need, Kallas added.
