The window for rescuing survivors of powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela is rapidly closing, as desperate families continue to search through the debris of collapsed buildings. Three days after a pair of 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes, the situation in La Guaira, the epicenter of the destruction, has grown increasingly dire.
Authorities announced Friday night that access to La Guaira would be blocked to manage chaos and facilitate search efforts. Permits will now be required for entry, though details on the process remain scarce. More than 14,000 military and police personnel are reportedly patrolling the area, according to Acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
Many Venezuelans have taken rescue efforts into their own hands, reporting a scarcity of government-led operations in the hardest-hit areas. The human toll has climbed to at least 920 dead and over 51,000 missing. Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours critical for finding survivors, though this can be extended with access to food and water.
"Each person saved is a miracle," said Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly, acknowledging the scale of the tragedy. Families like Nazareth Jiménez's are anxiously awaiting news, watching neighbors attempt to clear concrete slabs from a building reduced to rubble in La Guaira. Jiménez pleaded for machinery capable of moving the debris, stating, "There are still people alive in there."
The disaster presents a significant challenge for the current administration, which faces widespread skepticism due to Venezuela's decade-long economic disarray. The number of fatalities is expected to rise, with independent digital databases reporting tens of thousands of missing individuals, some of whom may be incommunicado due to communication outages.
As of midday Friday, more than 3,300 people were injured, and authorities reported rescuing 243.
International Response and Aid
The International Organization for Migration estimates that up to 6.76 million people could be affected. International aid efforts are underway, with Venezuelan authorities reporting 861 volunteers from Mexico, the U.S., El Salvador, Switzerland, and Colombia already present, and more expected. Acting President Rodríguez stated she spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reaffirmed their commitment to sending rescue teams and equipment.
Immediate Aftermath and Daily Struggles
Experts noted that the rapid succession of shallow quakes amplified the destruction. Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross's regional director for the Americas, observed that "people are still terrified to reenter what were their homes," leading many to sleep outdoors.
Survivors like Omar Reyes described immense personal loss, with around 20 family members confirmed dead. In Maiquetia, residents formed lines outside stores and pharmacies operating under strict, one-person-at-a-time access. The scarcity of essential goods, such as diapers, has led to desperate scenes.
Search efforts have been hampered by traffic and crowds, including motorcyclists whose engine noise frustrated rescuers attempting to listen for signs of life. In Catia La Mar, some individuals began looting basic goods from stores, while others crowded around a truck distributing bread and water until soldiers intervened. A pharmacy parking lot has been converted into a makeshift shelter with tarps and tents.
Yuleidy Cadenas, 28, stood across from a collapsed public housing building hoping for the rescue of her son, mother, and brother. She recounted fleeing her own building as it crumbled Wednesday, only to find her mother's apartment tower pancaked. "I got on top of the rubble and told them to yell back, and nobody did," she said, recounting the silence from her trapped loved ones.