Venezuela struck by strong aftershock days after devastating twin earthquakes
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Venezuela has been hit by a strong aftershock just days after devastating twin earthquakes killed at least 1,450 people.
Tens of thousands are still believed to be missing in the South American country after last Wednesday’s earthquake.
Now, a strong aftershock is believed to have been felt shortly after 7am (11am GMT) in Caracas and La Guaira.
It comes as the search continues for survivors of after the quakes that rocked northern Venezuela.
Fears have also been heightened for the safety of hundreds of buildings weakened by the tremors.
The confirmed death toll from the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes surpassed 1,430 on Saturday, with at least 68,900 people reported as missing.
The two quakes were among the strongest to hit Venezuela for more than a century and could be felt throughout the region.
A British search and rescue team provided by UK International Search and Rescue (UKISAR), which responds to disasters on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, was deployed to the South American country on Friday.
The 68-strong team, made up of personnel from fire brigades across the country, left RAF Brize Norton along with six specialist search dogs and humanitarian staff.
As well as the UKISAR team, Britain has dispatched members of the UK Emergency Medical Team to prepare for a further medical deployment.
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The Government has also made £2 million of humanitarian funding available to help respond to the disaster.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office confirmed that UK staff were all safe and accounted for after the British embassy in Caracas was damaged in the earthquakes.
The embassy, which is on the 11th floor of an office tower in the north east of the city, has been closed, but alternative arrangements have been put in place to assist British nationals in the country.
The number of British citizens in Venezuela is understood to be in the low hundreds and there have been no reports of Britons killed or injured, it is understood.
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