Venezuelans hope online posts will bring news of missing after...

Venezuelans hope online posts will bring news of missing after devastating earthquakes as families in Venezuela and abroad search through social media for relatives after Wednesday’s back-to-back quakes. Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said late Thursday that the death toll had risen to around 235, with at least 4,300 people injured, after 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes caused widespread damage. With communications disrupted, online registries and posts on platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and X have become crucial, especially as independent registries document up to 40,000 missing, exceeding the official government account. Relatives shared details digitally; Vanesa Marcano, 31, posted from Madrid about her uncle and aunt in La Guaira, and their missing 7-year-old grandson, visiting from the United States. The UN human rights mission in Venezuela urged the government to lift local social media restrictions, noting timely reliable information can save lives.