File photo (Source: Xinhua/IANS)
Caracas, June 27 (IANS) Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said that La Guaira state, which was hard hit by Wednesday's twin earthquakes, had been placed under military control to facilitate rescue efforts and ensure security.
"We want to tell everyone that La Guaira state is now fully militarised and fully under the control of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces," Rodriguez said during a televised briefing on Friday (local time).
Rodriguez said acting president Delcy Rodriguez had ordered the measure to ensure public safety, maintain internal order and facilitate rescue operations by Venezuelan emergency responders and international rescue teams.
He said the majority of rescue personnel were operating in Caraballeda, Macuto, Los Corales and Catia La Mar -- areas that had been severely affected by the earthquakes, reports Xinhua news agency.
Rodriguez called on the public not to travel to La Guaira to avoid congesting evacuation routes and routes used for transporting rescue teams and equipment.
He also called on Venezuelans to donate supplies, including water, food, mattresses, clothing, blankets, light and heavy equipment, including earthmoving machinery, through collection centres set up in Caracas.
He thanked thousands of volunteers, officials and rescue organisations for their tireless efforts to save lives and assist those affected.
Technical and humanitarian assistance from more than a dozen countries has begun arriving in Venezuela to help victims and support early recovery efforts after Wednesday's devastating earthquakes.
Rescue teams and specialised equipment have arrived in Venezuela since Thursday from countries including India, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Qatar, as well as from the UN system.
Wednesday's earthquakes killed at least 920 people and injured more than 3,360, according to the latest official report, severely damaging infrastructure along the country's central coast.
