The death toll from Venezuela’s twin earthquakes has risen to 920, while more than 50,000 people remain missing. International rescue teams have joined the search as hopes of finding survivors continue to fade. The disaster has overwhelmed emergency services and intensified pressure on authorities to speed up relief efforts.
The powerful magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck within one minute on Wednesday evening. The coastal state of La Guaira, near Caracas, suffered the heaviest destruction after buildings collapsed across the region. United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher described the response as extremely complex and warned the death toll could increase significantly.
Rescue teams from at least 17 countries have been mobilised to assist recovery operations. Emergency crews from Spain, Chile, Switzerland, Colombia, El Salvador, and Mexico are already working in affected areas. However, rescue workers said many collapsed buildings offered little chance of finding survivors. Authorities also restricted access to disaster zones from Friday night to support ongoing operations.
Meanwhile, survivors and volunteers continued digging through rubble with their bare hands while pleading for heavy machinery and official assistance. Residents also confronted interim leader Delcy Rodriguez during her visit to a devastated neighbourhood, accusing the government of responding too slowly. Many families said they had received little support while searching for missing relatives.
The United States announced a disaster response mission involving more than 250 personnel, including specialist search-and-rescue teams and trained dogs. Aid agencies warned that Venezuela’s long-running economic crisis had already weakened hospitals and essential public services before the disaster. World Cup 2026 matches also observed moments of silence to honour the victims of the country’s deadliest earthquake in more than a century.