The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros or MNE) confirmed that 36 Portuguese citizens or people of Portuguese descent have died following the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. Authorities report that 91 individuals remain missing or unreachable, while rescue efforts continue amidst ongoing fears within the local community.
Update: Death toll rises as Portuguese mission establishes base
The death toll has now reached 41, with the United Nations estimating total damages at 6.7 billion dollars. A Portuguese Joint Operational Force (Força Operacional Conjunta or FOCON) has arrived in the country and established an operations base in Catia La Mar, La Guaira, to assist in ongoing search and rescue efforts.
