Interim President Delcy Rodríguez defended the Venezuelan government's response to earthquakes that struck the country last week on Friday.
The statement comes as public criticism grows over the speed of rescue operations and allegations that the government is under-reporting the number of casualties.
Rodríguez rejected the accusations of inefficiency and lack of transparency. The earthquakes, which occurred in late June, have caused widespread devastation across the region. According to reports from Euronews and MSN, the death toll has topped 2,500 [2]. Other reports, including those from NBC News, place the number of deaths at at least 2,595 [1].
The interim leader's defense of the state's actions arrives at a critical political juncture. Rodríguez is currently serving a mandate of 180 days [3]. The administration has faced mounting pressure to provide a more accurate accounting of the disaster's impact and to justify the timing of its emergency deployments.
Government officials said rescue efforts were conducted with the available resources. However, critics continue to argue that the response was delayed, a claim Rodríguez denied during her address on July 3.
Rescue teams have continued to search for survivors in the affected areas. The government has not provided a detailed breakdown of the casualties by region, contributing to the ongoing disputes over the official figures.
“The death toll has topped 2,500 [2].”
The tension between official government figures and independent reporting suggests a lack of trust in state institutions during a national crisis. With Rodríguez's 180-day mandate in focus, the handling of this disaster serves as a primary benchmark for the interim administration's perceived competence and legitimacy.
