JAKARTA - Nearly 59,000 buildings are estimated to have been damaged or destroyed by the twin earthquakes that shook Venezuela violently last week, according to researchers at the US space agency, NASA, a much higher estimate than the official figures so far.
"Around 58,870 buildings are likely to be damaged or destroyed across the affected areas," according to a report based on satellite radar data collected on June 25 by researchers Corey Scher and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University, Anadolu (30/6) reported.
The report uses radar data from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1. The researchers described it as a "quick initial assessment" that showed "sudden and consistent surface changes consistent with damage," noting that it had not been verified in the field and should be considered an early indicator.
Meanwhile, the latest official report of the Venezuelan Government, delivered on Monday by the President of the National Assembly Jorge Rodriguez, said 855 buildings were damaged, including 189 collapsed buildings.
Rodriguez said the death toll from the back-to-back earthquakes had risen to 1,719, while another 5,034 were injured.
It is known that the United States Geological Survey (USGS) announced two earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.2 and 7.5 shook the South American country on June 24, with a 39-second interval.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred 23 kilometers (14.3 miles) southeast of Yumare in Yaracuy state, while a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred 23.9 km (14.9 miles) northeast of San Felipe, also in Yaracuy state.
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