Portugal declares national day of mourning for Venezuela earthquake victims

LISBON, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The Portuguese government has declared a national day of mourning to be observed on Sunday for the victims of the earthquakes in Venezuela, particularly Portuguese nationals and people of Portuguese descent, reported local media on Wednesday.

According to the latest update from Portugal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the death toll among Portuguese nationals and people of Portuguese descent has risen to 71, including 11 children, while another 71 people remain missing.

The official Lusa News Agency reported that the Portuguese community in Venezuela is one of the largest in the Portuguese diaspora, ranking second in Latin America after Brazil. Community estimates put its population, including people of Portuguese descent, at around 1.2 million. Enditem