A series of earthquakes in Venezuela has resulted in at least 920 fatalities, with hundreds more feared to be trapped beneath the rubble. International rescue teams have begun arriving to assist in the ongoing search and recovery efforts.
In La Guaira, a moment of hope emerged with the successful rescue of three young siblings from debris. Footage aired on state television showed the children, covered in dust, being pulled from a gap between concrete slabs. A man's voice is heard asking if they are siblings, to which one replies, "Yes, there are three of us."
Among the victims are foreign nationals, including one Portuguese national and two Brazilian citizens, their respective governments have confirmed. Spanish media, citing the foreign ministry, reported four Spanish nationals among the dead, with 106 still unaccounted for.
The earthquakes have affected multiple states, with the capital, Caracas, experiencing severe damage in the Los Palos Grandes and Altamira neighborhoods. Aftershocks have predominantly impacted the country's northern coastline, in areas such as La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcón.
The human toll has led to poignant tributes. The wife of Venezuelan footballer Héctor Bello was killed while protecting their daughter during the tremors. Bello shared on Instagram that his wife, identified by Venezuelan news outlets as Andrea, saved their toddler's life, stating, "I'll tell her the story of how you saved her, my love – how you gave your own life for our daughter, how you were a brave woman who never abandoned her, even as you took your last breaths."
The affected areas show widespread destruction, with buildings reduced to rubble. Venezuelan military personnel have been observed distributing aid to those impacted by the disaster.