Hope of finding more survivors faded one week after twin earthquakes devastated Venezuela and killed nearly 2,300 people. The disaster matters because food shortages, homelessness, and disease risks are worsening across affected communities. Survivors, displaced families, and rescue teams continue facing severe humanitarian challenges.
Venezuela declared seven days of national mourning as the death toll reached 2,295. National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said more than 11,000 people were injured and nearly 13,000 became homeless. The United Nations estimates around 50,000 people remain missing. Rescue teams have marked many collapsed buildings in La Guaira after finding no signs of life.
Search efforts have slowed as hopes of finding survivors continue to diminish. Rescue experts said trapped victims rarely survive beyond 72 hours after major earthquakes. However, rescuers found a three-year-old boy alive six days after the disaster. Local residents remain frustrated as many families still await news about missing relatives.
Meanwhile, humanitarian concerns are rapidly increasing across the affected areas. Food and clean water remain scarce, forcing many survivors to rely on emergency shelters and volunteers. Authorities also arrested four police officers accused of stealing valuables from collapsed buildings. The World Food Programme appealed for $50 million to feed 500,000 people over the next three months.
Health officials also warned of growing disease risks following the disaster. The World Health Organization said damaged health services face extreme pressure across Venezuela. Officials cautioned that low vaccination coverage could trigger outbreaks of diseases such as measles and diphtheria. Preliminary NASA satellite assessments estimated the earthquakes damaged or destroyed nearly 58,870 buildings.