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The death toll from twin earthquakes in Venezuela has climbed to 920, as rescue teams from around the world race against time in what officials describe as a rapidly deteriorating and “very complex” emergency.
The powerful tremors, measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, struck within minutes of each other on Wednesday evening, flattening entire communities in the northern coastal region, with the worst destruction reported in La Guaira, near the capital, Caracas.
United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher told AFP that the scale of the disaster remains uncertain, warning that “more than 50,000 people were missing” and that the final death toll could rise significantly as search operations continue through unstable rubble.
Public anger has mounted in Caracas, where interim leader Delcy Rodríguez was reportedly jeered during a visit to a heavily damaged neighbourhood. Residents accused authorities of failing to respond adequately as survivors remain trapped under collapsed structures.
In La Guaira, rescue efforts have shifted in many areas from recovery to body retrieval. Chilean rescue team leader Nadiomar Polanco said at one collapsed residential complex that “the collapse is total, and there is little chance of finding survivors,” adding that operations are now focused on recovering bodies.
Elsewhere, civilians continue desperate searches using bare hands and rudimentary tools. One resident, Marjosly Salazar, pleaded for assistance while searching for her missing infant grandson.
“Please, we need support here. We need machinery,” she said. “We haven’t seen any government officials here, none at all.”
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced restricted access to the disaster zone from 8:00 pm on Friday, citing safety and operational control concerns. Meanwhile, aftershocks and unstable buildings continue to hinder emergency teams’ access.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said at least 17 countries have mobilised rescue teams, including Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Switzerland and El Salvador. The United States has also deployed more than 250 personnel, including specialised search-and-rescue units with sniffer dogs.
Officials and aid agencies have warned that Venezuela’s pre-existing economic collapse has severely weakened hospitals and emergency systems, complicating the response and deepening fears of a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
