Cities across northern Venezuela are grappling with widespread devastation after back-to-back earthquakes struck Wednesday evening, killing at least 235 people and injuring thousands more. The casualty count is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue for thousands reported missing.
The two earthquakes, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in over a century and were felt throughout the region. State media reported the official death toll reached approximately 235 late Thursday, with at least 4,300 injured.
In the coastal region of La Guaira, north of the capital Caracas, significant damage and a high number of casualties were reported. The country's main airport, located in La Guaira, was closed due to damage, posing logistical challenges for aid delivery.
Survivors described scenes of shock and grief as buildings were reduced to skeletal remains, furniture dangled from windows, and streets cracked open. Families posted missing-person flyers and handwritten lists of names in desperate searches for loved ones. Interrupted phone service hampered efforts for Venezuelans abroad to contact relatives.
Many residents spent the night in open spaces like parks and parking lots. Dayana Delgado, a mother of three, questioned the availability of promised heavy machinery, stating that residents themselves were digging through collapsed structures. "I want to know where my child is, if he’s trapped or in a shelter," she said of her missing 8-year-old son.
Dramatic rescues were broadcast on Venezuelan state television, including a woman pulled alive from beneath a cement slab and a young girl rescued from a collapsed 10-story building. However, few government search teams were initially visible outside Caracas. The head of the Caracas metropolitan rescue team, José Luis Núñez, highlighted the rescued girl's "strength, determination and will to live."
Government Response and Challenges
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and announced the creation of a $200 million reconstruction fund for damaged homes and hospitals. She appealed to businesses to make heavy construction equipment available for rescue operations. The government stated its commitment to rescuing as many living people as possible.
While Venezuela is situated near fault lines, strong earthquakes are less common due to its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates. The U.S. Geological Survey identified the earthquakes' epicenter near Moron, approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles) west of Caracas. Experts noted that the combination of the quakes and shallow seismic movements amplified the destruction.
International Aid Arrives
Following calls from United Nations officials to lift social media restrictions for information dissemination, Venezuelans gained access to platforms like X, which had been blocked previously. The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, spoke with Rodríguez and confirmed the immediate deployment of U.S. assistance, describing it as a "whole-of-government response" that would be "big; fast; and effective," despite airport closures complicating logistics.
Rescuers, dogs, and equipment from Spain arrived, with teams from Chile, Switzerland, Turkey, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic also en route or already present. Mexico provided rescuers and material aid. Leaders from Qatar, Brazil, Portugal, and Canada pledged support.
The Venezuelan diaspora is also contributing. In Ecuador, a store owner reported receiving donations from fellow Venezuelans and Ecuadorians. Efforts by individuals in the U.S. to send financial aid to family members for essential supplies like food, water, and medication have been complicated by difficulties in locating recipients and the disruption of local payment channels.
La Guaira has a history of natural disasters, including a devastating 1999 mudslide that claimed thousands of lives.