Rome.- The Government of Italy raised this Friday the number of victims of Italian origin due to the devastating double earthquake that shook northern Venezuela last week, as confirmed by the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
“The devastating earthquake that has affected Venezuela continues, unfortunately, to return its most painful toll. Thousands of lives cut short, among which sixteen victims of Italian origin have also been identified,” he wrote on his X account.
Read more: WHO: Risk of disease outbreak in Venezuela increases after earthquakes
The Italian leader expressed on behalf of her Government her “most sincere condolences” and her closeness to the Venezuelan people.
For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed earlier in the week that, in addition to the deceased, four injured people were accounted for and another 29 people of Italian origin had already been located safe and sound, while efforts were underway to determine the whereabouts of 40 missing persons.
Venezuela is home to one of the largest communities of Italian descendants in the Americas, second only to Argentina and Brazil, with around 150,000 citizens holding that nationality.
The death toll from the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that occurred in the northern region of Venezuela on June 24 has risen to at least 2,595 people, while the number of injured stands at 12,400, as announced by the acting president, Delcy Rodríguez.
Meloni dedicated “a thought of deep gratitude” to the Italian rescuers sent to Venezuela: “Your courage, your professionalism, and the humanity with which you represent Italy make the entire Nation proud.”
To address the emergency, the European country sent a ‘Sistema Italia’ contingent to Venezuela, composed of more than one hundred experts, including Civil Protection personnel, the Crisis Unit, medical staff from five regions, and members of the Fire Department specialized in urban search and rescue (USAR) and technical assistance support (TAST).
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The Italian leader also expressed her gratitude for the awarding of the “Hero of Venezuela” diploma and medal to the Italian Republic, granted by Rodríguez in recognition of the extraordinary humanitarian aid and rescue efforts.
“Italy will continue to do its part, in a spirit of solidarity and friendship,” he/she assured.
