CARACAS, June 25 (Xinhua) -- President of Venezuela's National Assembly Jorge Rodriguez on Thursday called for national unity to focus on rescue efforts with the aim of "saving lives," after two powerful earthquakes struck the country's northern regions.
The Venezuelan government is currently responding to the emergency caused by the two major earthquakes and 138 aftershocks that have struck the country since Wednesday afternoon, Rodriguez told a press conference.
Venezuela is facing "the most severe seismic crisis" over decades. The simultaneous occurrence of the two quakes with the magnitude of 7.2 and 7.5 Wednesday amplified the destructive impact on Caracas, La Guaira, and other states, Rodriguez said.
At least 188 people have been killed, 1,520 people injured and about 200 others are being trapped under rubble following the earthquakes, and the figures will be updated in the coming hours, he said. ■
