The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela has risen to 589, with 2,980 people injured, acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced Friday. Thousands remain missing as rescue crews continue to search through rubble for survivors.
The state of La Guaira has been the hardest hit, experiencing the brunt of the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck Wednesday evening. The area has been militarized as search operations for survivors and the distribution of essential supplies are underway. Rodríguez stated that dozens of people have been rescued, bringing joy to their families.
Venezuelan state television has broadcast dramatic rescue footage, including a woman pulled alive from beneath a collapsed cement slab. However, initial reports indicated a limited presence of official search teams outside the capital, Caracas.
Thousands of people are feared missing, and the casualty count is expected to climb. The International Organization for Migration estimates that up to 6.76 million people in Venezuela could be affected, with approximately 2 million in Caracas alone. Many survivors are hesitant to re-enter damaged buildings, expressing fear of further tremors.
Residents, like Dayana Delgado, a mother searching for her missing 8-year-old son, have expressed frustration over the pace of official rescue operations, with neighbors reportedly leading the efforts to dig through collapsed structures. Other families have resorted to posting missing-person flyers and sharing handwritten lists of names, while those abroad struggle to connect with relatives due to disrupted communication lines.
In Caracas, hundreds spent Thursday night in open spaces like parks and parking lots. The capital's metropolitan rescue team head, José Luis Núñez, described the collapse of a 10-story building in La Guaira, which flattened like a pancake, and highlighted the strength of a young girl rescued from the debris.
La Guaira has a history of natural disasters, including a devastating 1999 mudslide that claimed thousands of lives. Cristian Carreño, a resident of La Guaira, described losing everything and expressed concern for those still trapped in his precariously tilted apartment building.
International rescue crews and aid have begun arriving, with teams from Spain, Germany, Chile, Switzerland, Turkey, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic deploying to Venezuela. Mexico has also provided material aid. The United States has pledged immediate assistance, though challenges remain due to the closure of Venezuela's main airport near Caracas.
While Venezuela is situated near fault lines, strong earthquakes are less common than in other parts of Latin America. The U.S. Geological Survey indicated the earthquakes were centered near Moron, west of Caracas. Experts noted that the combination of two consecutive seismic events and shallow movements amplified the destruction.
Following the disaster, access to social media platform X was restored in Venezuela after being blocked by the government since August 2024. This move was prompted by a U.N. call for the government to lift restrictions to facilitate the sharing of life-saving information.