Portugal observes national day of mourning for Venezuela earthquake victims

Portugal is observing a national day of mourning today in honour of the Portuguese citizens and people of Portuguese descent killed in the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, as the number of confirmed victims linked to Portugal continues to rise.

The day of mourning was announced by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, who said the decision had been coordinated with the President of the Republic as a mark of national solidarity with the victims and their families.

According to the latest update from Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, 93 Portuguese citizens and Portuguese descendants have now been confirmed dead, including 17 children. Officials warn the final toll is likely to increase, with more Portuguese nationals and members of the Portuguese community still reported missing than the number of fatalities confirmed so far.

The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude and striking less than a minute apart, have claimed at least 2,295 lives and injured 11,267 people across Venezuela.

“We are not in a position at this moment to estimate what the final death toll from this tragedy will be,” Montenegro has told reporters, stressing that he remains in close contact with Venezuelan authorities, Portuguese emergency teams deployed in the disaster zone and European coordination bodies overseeing the international response.

Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, has declared seven days of national mourning following one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in decades, and is only now (against a climate of rising social tensions) offering financial and other assistance to the hundreds of families whose lives have been devastated.

What national day of mourning means

In Portugal, a national day of mourning is reserved for events of exceptional gravity, including major disasters with significant loss of life or the deaths of figures of outstanding national importance. It serves as the state’s official expression of grief and solidarity.

Throughout the day, national flags are flown at half-mast on public buildings and other official sites across the country.

Unlike a public holiday, a national day of mourning does not require businesses, schools or public services to close. However, official ceremonies, public events and festive activities may be cancelled, postponed or adapted at the discretion of organisers.

Source: Executive Digest

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.