Venezuelans hope online posts will bring news of missing after devastating earthquakes

Venezuelans hope online posts will bring news of missing after devastating earthquakes as two powerful quakes struck the country Wednesday evening. Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said late Thursday the death toll had risen to around 235, with at least 4,300 people injured. The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes caused widespread damage and were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century. With communications patchy, families turned to social media and online registries, including independent sites tracking up to 40,000 people missing, far beyond official figures. In La Guaira state, relatives such as Vanesa Marcano posted photos from Madrid, while Jhoyser Concalves shared a “MISSING” flyer on X and Facebook. The UN urged Venezuela to lift restrictions on platforms like X and Signal.