International

Russian forces pull back from Kyiv, exposing horrors of war

Published

4 years ago

April 3, 2022

Ukrainian troops recaptured territory around Kyiv on Saturday as Russian forces pulled back from towns they had seized in the opening days of the war and left in their wake scenes of destruction and horror, including the abandoned bodies of dead civilians.

Journalists entered the town of Bucha, a suburb northwest of the capital, and saw numerous corpses strewn on the streets. Video posted to social media and verified by The Washington Post showed what appeared to be at least nine dead, including one child.

Bucha’s mayor, Anatoly Fedoruk, said in an interview that around 270 local residents had been buried in two mass graves. He estimated that 40 people were lying dead in the streets. Some had been bound and executed — shot in the back of the head, he said.

The mayor added that officials are worried that the bodies could be booby-trapped with explosives. In a video address to Ukrainians early Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was “mining the whole territory.”

“They are mining homes, mining equipment, even the bodies of people who were killed,” he said. The Post has not verified those claims.

Revelations of atrocities and alleged war crimes, including reports of soldiers firing on civilian protesters in the east, cast a pall over what has in some ways been a hopeful period for Ukrainians as they resist the Russian invaders.

The capital appears safe for the moment, but at the same time, shelling and intense fighting in the east and south of the country are continuing. Efforts to rescue civilians in besieged cities have been slowed by the extremely dangerous conditions on the ground.

The war, in its 38th day, remained a grinding conflict with no clear resolution in sight. The Russian strategic pivot may foreshadow a long war of attrition. That would prolong the already severe humanitarian crisis in which millions of Ukrainians have fled their homes, becoming refugees in neighboring countries.

A cease-fire in the largely destroyed coastal city of Mariupol has been in place for several days, creating a corridor to leave the city. A team from the Red Cross failed to reach the city Friday or Saturday, citing the unsafe environment. A Red Cross spokesperson emailed a note with few details saying that teams are en route but have yet to reach Mariupol.

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Western military analysts are still trying to interpret the decision by Russian military commanders to reposition their forces. Russian officials have said they are concentrating their forces in the eastern part of the country. The repositioning could signal an intense battle for control of the Donbas region. It appears that, at least for now, Russian President Vladimir Putin has recalculated what he can and can’t achieve with his invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s deputy defense minister, Anna Malyar, said late Saturday that the entire Kyiv administrative region is fully under Ukrainian control.

Zelensky had said earlier that the movement of Russian forces was “slow but noticeable.”

But he continued his ongoing appeal to allied nations to do more to aid his war-scorched country. He cited the suffering in Mariupol, where tens of thousands of residents have been trying to survive amid the rubble.

“Europe has no right to react in silence to what is happening in our Mariupol. The whole world must react to this humanitarian catastrophe,” Zelensky said in his video address.

Zelensky’s demand for help came amid significant battlefield developments that potentially could alter the geography of the war.

If, as some Western analysts believe, Putin focuses on expanding his control of territory in the east, it would open a broad corridor between Russia and the Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. But a more limited strategic goal could undermine support within Russia for the war effort.

But after Moscow’s negotiators agreed in talks with Ukraine to de-escalate the fighting around Kyiv and Chernihiv, and focus instead on the eastern Donbas region, propagandists and pro-war politicians expressed dismay. Prominent state television anchor Vladimir Solovyov said Thursday that “that any negotiation with the Nazis until the boot is on their throat is weakness. You shouldn’t shake hands with this creep,” he said, apparently referring to Zelensky.

Another pro-Kremlin journalist and blogger Semyon Pegov, from the outlet War Gonzo, which reports from the Russian side of the war, said the invasion was just beginning and that Russia would continue “to the end.” He called Russian soldiers “real Russian heroes.”

“No one and nothing will take away their feat from them,” he posted to Telegram on Friday. “It’s already gone down in history.”

As part of their retreat, Russian forces abandoned an airport seized at the start of the invasion. Near the border with Belarus, Ukrainian forces regained control of the disabled Chernobyl nuclear power plant that had been attacked and captured by Russian forces. The national flag once again was raised over the plant.

The repositioning of troops so far has been relatively modest and is possibly a tactic to fool the Ukrainians into lowering their defensive posture in the capital, Brookings Institution defense analyst Michael O’Hanlon said Saturday. He added the Russians may be hoping that Zelensky reveals his whereabouts.

“If they can get the Ukrainians to lower their guard, that would be for them potentially an opportunity to make a strike against Zelensky and/or his inner circle and the top tier of the government,” O’Hanlon said. “I still think there’s a possibility that they’re trying to lure the Ukrainians into making a mistake.”

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On-and-off negotiations for a broad cease-fire have been on again in recent days, but the sincerity of the Russians at the table has been questioned by their Ukrainian counterparts. They fear, as do security analysts in the West, that Russian gestures toward a cease-fire and a negotiated peace could be a diversion to help the attackers reposition their forces after the initial thrust of the invasion yielded disappointing results.

According to Ukrainian media reports, David Arakhamia, the head of the Ukrainian delegation to the talks, said officials are preparing for a possible meeting between Zelensky and Putin in Turkey.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych told national television that Ukrainians should prepare for “difficult fights” ahead in Mariupol and in the southern and eastern regions of the country.

In the east, four people were “injured and severely burned” after Russian forces fired mortars at protesters in a city near Zaporizhzhia, the site of a nuclear plant that Russia captured last month, according to Ukraine’s human rights ombudswoman.

Residents of Enerhodar, a satellite town of Zaporizhzhia, which has been occupied by Russian forces for nearly four weeks, held a rally in support of Ukraine on Saturday. Russian soldiers used light and noise grenades to disrupt the protest and opened mortar fire on residents, the ombudswoman, Lyudmyla Denisova, said in a statement posted to Telegram.

“Such treatment of civilians is a crime against humanity and a war crime as defined by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,” Denisova said.

The Washington Post verified two videos recorded by witnesses and posted to Telegram. The images were filmed at the same time from separate angles and show at least nine flashes followed by large booms. Gunfire is audible as people run away from the site of the protest.

“There is a fight in the city center!” a man yells in a third video, verified by The Post, while rushing away from multiple loud booms. “Russian occupiers attacked civilians. There was a peaceful protest here.”

Tens of thousands of people in recent weeks have fled Ukrainian cities under attack by Russian forces after Kyiv and Moscow agreed on fragile evacuation deals.

Across Ukraine, seven humanitarian corridors have been established, according to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, including the one from Mariupol. She said in a Telegram post that more than 6,000 people were evacuated from front-line cities to other parts of the country on Friday.

Vereshchuk said those evacuees included more than 1,400 people who left in their vehicles along planned routes from the southern cities of Berdyansk and Melitopol, which are under Russian control, to the nearby Zaporizhzhia region.

Among them were hundreds of people from Mariupol who had managed to escape in private vehicles. Separately, she said, a convoy of 42 buses carried Mariupol residents to Zaporizhzhia from Berdyansk, which they had previously reached on their own.

In southern Ukraine, the death toll from a missile strike that hit a main government building in the city of Mykolaiv this week has risen to 32, the governor of the region, Vitaliy Kim, said Saturday on Telegram.

Dozens of people remain unaccounted for after that attack blasted a hole through part of the building, Dmytro Pletenchuk, a press officer of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, said earlier. More than 30 people were injured, he said as rescue workers continued to clear rubble Friday and funerals were held for many of the victims.

The war continues to stir tensions globally and could have ramifications in low Earth orbit: The director of Russia’s space agency suggested he would submit a proposal to end his country’s cooperation in the International Space Station program.

In tweets on Saturday, Dmitry Rogozin, head of the agency Roscosmos, pointed to sanctions against a “number of enterprises in the Russian rocket and space industry.” He said that he appealed to the heads of NASA, the Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency to lift sanctions and that in their responses, the “position of our partners is clear: the sanctions will not be lifted.”

“I believe that the restoration of normal relations between partners in the International Space Station and other joint projects is possible only with the complete and unconditional lifting of illegal sanctions,” Rogozin wrote.

Rogozin has frequently used threatening and blustery rhetoric, including to repeatedly suggest Russia could exit the partnership. His latest remarks came three days after two Russian cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut returned from the space station, a symbol of partnership in space even amid mounting tensions over the war in Ukraine.

Since Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, NASA has maintained that the station has been operating as normal, unaffected by the conflict. NASA has said it would be unable to operate the space station without the Russians because the nation provides the propulsion necessary to keep the station in orbit.

In China, officials on Saturday renewed their criticism of sanctions placed on Russia. The remarks came a day after a high-level virtual summit between China and the European Union.

“We oppose sanctions, and the effects of these sanctions also risk spilling to the rest of the world,” Wang Lutong, director general of European affairs at China’s Foreign Ministry, told reporters on Saturday.

Since Russian forces invaded Ukraine, E.U. leaders have taken a tougher stance on China, urging it to drop its tacit support for the invasion and work for peace — but Beijing is pushing back.

“China is not a related party on the crisis of Ukraine. We don’t think our normal trade with any other country should be affected,” Wang said. He added that China is contributing to the global economy by conducting normal trade with Russia.

Pope Francis said Saturday that he is considering making a trip to Kyiv. While traveling from Rome to Malta, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church was asked by a reporter on his plane whether a visit to Ukraine was a possibility following invitations from Ukrainian political and religious officials.

“Yes, it is on the table,” Francis answered, but he offered no further details, according to Reuters.

Zelensky has spoken twice with the pope by telephone, according to the Vatican, and along with Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has extended invitations to Francis to visit Ukraine. The country has a sizable Roman Catholic population. However, most Ukrainian Catholics identify with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Francis has vocally condemned the war in Ukraine, calling it a “senseless massacre where every day slaughters and atrocities are being repeated.”

THE WASHINGTON POST

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International

US-Iran ceasefire under threat as fresh strikes rock Middle East

Published

10 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Trends Admin

US-Iran ceasefire under threat as fresh strikes rock Middle East

Fresh military exchanges between the United States and Iran have renewed fears that the fragile Middle East ceasefire could collapse, with both countries accusing each other of violating the truce even as negotiations continue toward a broader peace agreement.

The latest escalation is seen as the most serious challenge yet to the interim ceasefire reached earlier this month, raising concerns that months of diplomatic efforts could unravel despite mediation by regional and international partners.

Iranian state media reported on Saturday that Tehran launched retaliatory attacks against American-linked positions in the Gulf after US forces struck several Iranian military installations along the country’s southern coastline.

The United States, however, insisted its military action was a direct response to an Iranian drone attack on a commercial cargo vessel navigating the strategic Strait of Hormuz, describing the incident as a clear breach of the ceasefire agreement.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces targeted Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, coastal radar installations and other military infrastructure in a precision operation aimed at protecting international shipping routes.

CENTCOM described the strikes as a “powerful response” to what it called “unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces” that “clearly violated the ceasefire.”

US officials said the military operation lasted about 90 minutes and focused on degrading Iran’s capability to threaten maritime traffic in the Gulf.

US President Donald Trump condemned the reported Iranian drone attack on the commercial vessel, describing it as “a foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement.”

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Vice President JD Vance also warned Tehran against further escalation, saying on X that “violence will be met with violence” if additional attacks were carried out.

Iran rejected Washington’s account, insisting its military actions were defensive and accusing the United States of violating international law by attacking Iranian territory.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry maintained that Tehran’s response was legitimate self-defence, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later announced retaliatory strikes against American positions across the Gulf.

In a statement carried by Iranian state television, the Guards warned that any repeat of US military action would trigger an even broader response.

Iranian state television also reported an explosion at Taherouyeh Pier near the southern port city of Sirik, attributing the blast to a projectile strike. However, the Mehr News Agency later reported that port operations continued normally and no significant damage had been recorded.

The renewed confrontation has once again drawn international attention to the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports pass.

Although Iran continues to insist that vessels obtain its approval before transiting the waterway, commercial shipping has gradually resumed following earlier disruptions.

Several shipping companies have adopted alternative routes or delayed voyages due to heightened security concerns, while naval patrols by Western and regional forces have increased to safeguard commercial vessels.

Despite the latest military exchanges, global oil prices have continued to decline amid expectations that maritime traffic through the strategic waterway will continue and that both Washington and Tehran remain committed to preserving the broader ceasefire.

Amid the renewed tensions, Israel and Lebanon signed a US-brokered framework agreement on Friday aimed at laying the foundation for lasting peace along their shared border.

The agreement followed five rounds of negotiations in Washington and is expected to serve as a roadmap for reducing hostilities between both neighbours.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the agreement as “the beginning of the beginning,” saying it creates a framework for lasting peace and security while acknowledging that significant work remains.

Under the arrangement, Lebanese armed forces will gradually assume control of pilot areas currently occupied by Israeli troops, while Israel will maintain a limited security presence until the disarmament of Hezbollah can be independently verified.

The United States also announced plans to establish a Military Coordination Group to oversee implementation of the agreement, alongside an additional $100 million humanitarian assistance package for affected communities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the agreement as a diplomatic victory over Iran, insisting Tehran should have no role in Lebanon’s future security arrangements.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the accord as a “first step” toward restoring state sovereignty and allowing displaced civilians to return home safely.

However, the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement rejected the framework, with senior lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah arguing that the agreement was intended to weaken the broader regional ceasefire involving Iran.

Supporters of Hezbollah later staged protests in Beirut following the announcement.

Meanwhile, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi stressed that any permanent agreement between Washington and Tehran must include rigorous international verification to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons.

Grossi said Iran has repeatedly insisted that developing nuclear weapons is not its intention.

“Intentions are not enough,” he said, adding that a strong verification mechanism must be established as soon as possible.

Iran’s nuclear programme remains one of the most contentious issues in ongoing negotiations, with Tehran and Washington still divided over future access for international inspectors.

Under the interim agreement, Iran’s estimated 440-kilogram stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 per cent is expected to be downblended under IAEA supervision.

Diplomatic sources say the coming days will be crucial in determining whether the latest exchange of military strikes proves to be an isolated incident or marks the beginning of a broader regional conflict capable of disrupting global energy supplies and one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.

US-Iran ceasefire under threat as fresh strikes rock Middle East

International

UN Halts Strait of Hormuz Evacuation After Iran-Linked Attack on Cargo Ship

Published

2 days ago

June 26, 2026

Trends Admin

UN Halts Strait of Hormuz Evacuation After Iran-Linked Attack on Cargo Ship

International Maritime Organization suspends rescue mission following projectile strike on Singapore-flagged vessel; US officials blame Tehran as fragile peace deal faces renewed strain

The UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) has paused its emergency evacuation of more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship passing through the strategic waterway was attacked on Thursday, dealing a blow to a fragile US-Iran interim peace deal. The British maritime security agency UKMTO reported that a vessel was struck approximately 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s port of Dahit by “an unknown projectile,” sustaining damage to its bridge. No casualties were reported, and the ship continued through the strait without requiring assistance. The vessel was identified as the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Lovely, which had been stranded in the Persian Gulf for over 100 days before attempting its departure. Maritime risk management firm Vanguard confirmed the ship continued its journey and successfully exited on the eastern side of the strait at approximately 15:30 local time. Evergreen Shipping, the vessel’s operator, issued a statement confirming that the Ever Lovely sustained damage to the wheelhouse and bridge windows but reported the ship, crew, and cargo were all safe, with the main engine and navigation systems functioning normally. According to ship-tracking website MarineTraffic, the vessel entered the strait using the southern route on Thursday morning and exited on the east side.

Two US officials told Reuters and CNN that Iran was responsible for the attack, with a security source suggesting the vessel was likely targeted by a drone. Iran has not claimed responsibility for the incident. The attack came hours after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a stark warning requiring ships to travel only along designated routes and coordinate with Iranian authorities when passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) posted on X that vessels traveling outside designated routes would not be guaranteed safe passage. The authority also warned that “any consequences arising from the use of unauthorised routes shall be the responsibility of the vessel’s owner, operator and master.”

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IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez announced the suspension in a statement on Thursday, emphasizing that safety remains paramount. Dominguez stated that following the launch of the IMO’s evacuation plan, through which several vessels have already been successfully evacuated, he had decided to temporarily pause its implementation in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place for the ships on the evacuation list and all those in the region. He noted that the Ever Lovely did not transit under the IMO’s evacuation framework at the time of the attack. He also highlighted that Thursday marked the Day of the Seafarer, stressing the need to ensure that thousands of stranded mariners do not become “collateral victims in this geopolitical conflict.” Dominguez reiterated that he has always emphasized that the safety of the seafarers remains paramount, and therefore, to ensure a coordinated approach and navigational safety, the evacuation plan would be paused until further clarity is obtained.

Hundreds of ships and thousands of sailors have been stranded in the Gulf since February due to the US-Israel war against Iran. The UN evacuation effort was only announced on Tuesday, June 23, following the reopening of the strait after a US-Iran interim agreement. Dominguez described the initiative as a “large-scale operation” with cooperation from Iran, Oman, the US, other coastal states in the region, and the maritime industry. The program offered ships two voluntary routes to leave the Gulf: one via Iranian waters and another through Omani waters with US oversight. Before the suspension, the IMO reported that 57 vessels with approximately 1,100 crew members had successfully left the Strait of Hormuz between June 23 and the early hours of June 25.

Last week, the US and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to end hostilities and reopen the strait, which included a commitment from Iran to use its “best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days.” President Donald Trump warned earlier this month that if Iran did not honor the agreement, the US would “probably go back to bombing the country again.” Despite the agreement, Tehran has repeatedly signaled it plans to assert control over the waterway and charge what it calls maritime service fees for crossing, which the US has fiercely opposed. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently on a tour of Gulf states to reassure partners about the interim pact, warned that if Iran threatened or blocked ships in the strait, “then we’re going to have a problem.” Rubio emphasized that no country is allowed to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz, which he called “an international waterway.”

Following the attack, the IRGC ordered two Panama-flagged ships to change course, according to British maritime security company Ambrey. The IRGC also posted on its official Telegram channel that three vessels using the IMO-approved southern route were ordered to turn back. Maritime intelligence company Windward reported that a total of five ships reversed course following the incident. The IRGC stated that attempts to cross the strait along the IMO-designated routes were “unacceptable and extremely dangerous” and that all vessels should coordinate with Iranian authorities.

Benchmark oil prices rose 1.9% following the reported attack, with analysts warning the incident could delay the resumption of normal Gulf oil flows and refocus attention on Iran’s future control over the strategic waterway. Before the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz handled approximately one-fifth of the world’s daily oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Data from maritime tracking firm Kpler showed that 70 ships passed through the strait on June 24, more than double the previous day’s count, indicating a tentative recovery in traffic following the interim agreement. However, earlier on Thursday, the price of oil briefly fell below $72.48 per barrel—the level it was at before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February—before edging up to $73.23.

The IMO has indicated the evacuation plan will remain paused “until further clarity is obtained” regarding safety guarantees for ships in the region. The attack has raised renewed questions about the enforceability of the US-Iran interim agreement and the extent of Iran’s future control over the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while acknowledging that the US wants a deal, emphasized that Washington seeks “a deal, not a deal at any price.” The international community will be watching closely to see whether the pause in evacuation operations proves temporary or signals a broader unraveling of the fragile peace agreement.

UN Halts Strait of Hormuz Evacuation After Iran-Linked Attack on Cargo Ship

International

Venezuela earthquakes: Death toll hits 235 as rescuers race to save survivors from rubble

Published

2 days ago

June 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Venezuela earthquakes: Death toll hits 235 as rescuers race to save survivors from rubble

Rescue teams are battling against time to find survivors after two devastating Venezuela earthquakes struck near the capital, Caracas, killing at least 235 people, injuring more than 4,300, and leaving thousands displaced.

The twin earthquakes, which struck within seconds of each other on Wednesday evening, have flattened homes, hotels, office buildings and public infrastructure across Caracas, the coastal state of La Guaira, and several other northern regions. Emergency workers say the number of casualties is expected to rise as search operations continue in the hardest-hit communities.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake measured 7.2 magnitude, followed just moments later by a stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor. Both quakes occurred at relatively shallow depths, significantly increasing the intensity of ground shaking and the scale of destruction.

Search-and-rescue teams, supported by soldiers, firefighters, police officers and volunteers, are combing through collapsed buildings using heavy machinery, rescue dogs and thermal imaging equipment in a race to locate survivors trapped beneath the debris.

Across Caracas and La Guaira, families gathered outside destroyed residential buildings and hospitals anxiously awaiting news of missing relatives. Authorities said rescue operations would continue around the clock despite repeated aftershocks.

Officials estimate that about 250 buildings have either collapsed or sustained severe structural damage, including residential apartments, hotels, hospitals, schools and government facilities.

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Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez has declared a nationwide state of emergency, mobilising the military and emergency agencies to coordinate rescue efforts and humanitarian assistance.

Thousands of residents who lost their homes have been moved into temporary shelters, while schools, sports centres and public buildings have been converted into emergency accommodation.

Authorities also confirmed that more than 30 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial earthquakes, forcing many residents to remain outdoors for fear of further building collapses.

The powerful earthquakes caused widespread disruption to essential services, damaging roads, bridges, electricity networks, water systems and telecommunications infrastructure.

Operations at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía were temporarily suspended after parts of the terminal sustained structural damage. Several roads linking Caracas to surrounding communities were also affected, slowing rescue operations.

Hospitals across the capital continue treating thousands of injured victims, with emergency medical teams working under pressure to cope with the rising number of casualties.

Scenes of grief unfolded across the affected areas as families searched hospitals, emergency shelters and collapsed buildings for missing relatives.

Medical student Juan Ortiz said one of his close friends had been confirmed dead, while another remained trapped beneath the rubble.

“I’m in shock and confusion, and frustrated that I can’t help,” he said.

Authorities have urged residents to avoid damaged buildings and cooperate with emergency officials as rescue efforts continue.

Several countries have pledged support for Venezuela’s emergency response.

The United States announced an initial $150 million humanitarian assistance package and deployed military transport aircraft, specialist search-and-rescue teams, medical personnel and emergency supplies.

Emergency assistance has also been offered by Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Qatar, and several international humanitarian organisations.

Technology company SpaceX has also activated Starlink satellite internet services to help restore communications in disaster-hit areas where mobile and internet networks have failed.

The USGS warned that the humanitarian crisis could worsen considerably.

Its earthquake impact assessment indicates there is a 42 per cent probability that fatalities could exceed 10,000, while there is a 33 per cent chance the disaster could ultimately affect more than 100,000 people, based on historical earthquake data, population density and the severity of the tremors.

Officials stressed that the estimates are intended to guide emergency response planning and do not represent confirmed casualty forecasts.

Experts say the earthquakes were triggered by movement along the boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates.

The 7.5-magnitude earthquake is believed to be the strongest recorded in Venezuela since 1900, making it one of the country’s worst natural disasters in modern history.

Authorities say their immediate priorities remain rescuing survivors, providing emergency medical treatment, restoring essential services and delivering humanitarian assistance to thousands of displaced families.