MercoPress https://en.mercopress.com/ South Atlantic News Agency en Copyright 2026, MercoPress. https://en.mercopress.com/web/img/en/mercopress-logo.gif MercoPress http://en.mercopress.com/ <![CDATA[Why Venezuela's earthquake was so deadly: shallow, powerful and just seconds apart]]> The satellite images that have gradually emerged confirm a trail of collapsed buildings along the coast, the most densely populated and hardest-hit area The combination of two powerful, very shallow earthquakes just 39 seconds apart explains much of the devastation left by Wednesday's earthquake in north-central Venezuela, where the latest official toll exceeds 1,450 dead and 3,150 injured. The satellite images that have gradually emerged confirm a trail of collapsed buildings along the coast, the most densely populated and hardest-hit area.

]]> Sun, 28 Jun 2026 20:51:00 GMT <![CDATA[Venezuela's earthquake toll rises to at least 920 dead as rescuers race against time]]> Despite the time elapsed, teams were still rescuing people alive The number of victims from the twin earthquake that struck north-central Venezuela on Wednesday rose to at least 920 dead and 3,360 injured, according to the toll given on Friday by the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, who specified that at least 172 people remain trapped under the rubble. Rescue teams worked against the clock more than 48 hours after the quakes, as the chances of finding survivors narrowed.

]]> Sat, 27 Jun 2026 09:21:00 GMT <![CDATA[Venezuela's quake death toll climbs to 589 as the rescue window narrows]]> The World Health Organization recalled that the first 72 hours are decisive for finding victims alive The number of victims from the twin earthquake that struck north-central Venezuela on Wednesday rose to at least 589 dead and 2,980 injured, according to the toll given on Friday by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who warned that the figure would keep rising. Rescue teams worked against the clock through the rubble as the first 72 hours —considered critical for finding survivors— drew to a close.

]]> Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:52:00 GMT <![CDATA[Fishermen film the first seconds of Venezuela's earthquake from the sea off La Guaira]]> In the video the reaction of the fishermen and an unusual movement of the boats can be seen during the first seconds of the quake A group of fishermen working off the coast of La Guaira state captured on video the moment when the two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that shook Venezuela began on Wednesday and that, according to the latest official toll, left at least 164 dead and 971 injured. The footage, shared on social media, became one of the most widely circulated records of the catastrophe.

]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:51:00 GMT <![CDATA[Two powerful earthquakes strike northern Venezuela and collapse buildings in Caracas]]> The USGS described both quakes as a “seismic doublet,” a phenomenon in which two large-magnitude earthquakes occur seconds apart in the same area Two powerful earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, about 39 seconds apart, struck north-central Venezuela on Wednesday afternoon, collapsing buildings in the capital, Caracas, and leaving rescue teams working through the rubble, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, though she did not provide figures for the injured or dead.

]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:30:00 GMT <![CDATA[Venezuela's earthquake toll rises to at least 164 dead and nearly 1,000 injured]]> Rodríguez said that La Guaira, a coastal state north of Caracas, is the hardest hit and described it as a “disaster zone,” with a high number of collapsed buildings The number of victims from the twin earthquake that struck north-central Venezuela rose to at least 164 dead and 971 injured, acting President Delcy Rodríguez reported on Thursday, warning that the figure would keep rising as rescue work progressed. The quakes, of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, hit on Wednesday afternoon and left dozens of buildings collapsed across several regions of the country.

]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:04:00 GMT <![CDATA[Offers of aid pour in for Venezuela from across the Americas and beyond after its earthquake]]> Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his “concern and dismay” and instructed his Foreign Ministry and the embassy in Caracas to assess assistance measures Governments from across the Americas and other regions of the world expressed solidarity with Venezuela and offered assistance after the twin earthquake of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that struck the north-central part of the country on Wednesday and that, according to the first official toll, left at least 32 dead and more than 700 injured. Several countries announced the dispatch of rescue teams, while acting President Delcy Rodríguez thanked them for the shows of support.

]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2026 06:41:00 GMT <![CDATA[Australia reports bird flu has killed 13.000 elephant seal pups in Heard and McDonald islands]]> Australian Antarctic Program says mortality in some elephant seal “harems” as high as 97%. The pathogenic strain of bird flu, H5N1 has killed more than 13,000 elephant seal pups after infecting a breeding colony on a sub-Antarctic volcanic island, Australian scientists from the Antarctic Program discovered.

]]> Sat, 20 Jun 2026 20:35:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay to add AI to environmental controls and seeks a new environmental-crimes law]]> In Minister Ortuño's view, the increase in administrative sanctions set by the recent fines decree “must be complemented by the incorporation into the Penal Code of a chapter on environmental crimes” Uruguay's Environment Minister, Edgardo Ortuño, said the ministry will incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into environmental controls and push for a new environmental-crimes law, among the priorities he outlined ahead of the budget review (Rendición de Cuentas) that the Executive will present to Parliament on June 30.

]]> Sun, 14 Jun 2026 20:30:00 GMT <![CDATA[Colombia's government confirms El Niño will be among the most intense since 1950]]> In Colombia, El Niño tends to be associated with a decline in rainfall, which raises the risk of drought and energy rationing in a country that relies heavily on hydroelectric generation Colombia's Environment Ministry confirmed on Thursday that the El Niño phenomenon arrived about three months earlier than expected and that, if projections hold, it will be one of the "most intense recorded since 1950," according to data from the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam). The agency said the conditions associated with the phenomenon —which warms ocean waters above normal— are already present in the equatorial Pacific.

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