Rescue teams and volunteers continued searching for survivors across northern Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes struck within a minute of each other, killing at least 235 people and injuring around 4,300, according to government officials.
The twin earthquakes, measured by the United States Geological Survey at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, hit late Wednesday, causing widespread destruction in the coastal state of La Guaira and parts of the capital, Caracas. Buildings collapsed, roads were damaged, and powerful aftershocks complicated rescue efforts as emergency workers raced against time to locate people trapped beneath the rubble.
Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said the death toll had climbed to 235, with thousands more injured. Rescue operations continued despite shortages of equipment, trained personnel, and difficult conditions in several affected areas.
Residents described desperate attempts to save trapped victims using limited resources before professional rescue teams arrived. Hospitals across the region received a steady stream of injured survivors, including children rescued from collapsed buildings.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez visited the disaster-hit areas after La Guaira was declared a disaster zone. Authorities also reported damage to the region’s international airport, which has been temporarily closed, potentially affecting the arrival of humanitarian aid and rescue teams.
Several countries, including Switzerland, Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico, China, India, Brazil, and Iran, have pledged assistance. The United States announced the deployment of naval vessels, aircraft, helicopters, and $150 million in humanitarian aid to support relief operations.
The United Nations also expressed support for the response, with Secretary-General António Guterres offering condolences and reaffirming the organization’s commitment to assisting affected communities.
The earthquakes, the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, were also felt in neighboring Colombia and northern Brazil, prompting evacuations in several cities.
Authorities warned that aftershocks could continue in the coming days as rescue teams remain focused on locating survivors and providing emergency assistance to thousands of displaced residents.