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At least 235 people have been confirmed dead after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela, triggering a large-scale rescue operation that continues to unfold amid widespread destruction and growing international assistance.
Rescue teams are racing against time using heavy machinery and bare hands to reach survivors trapped under collapsed structures.
According to National Assembly chief Jorge Rodríguez, more than 200 people remain buried beneath rubble following the quakes, which flattened scores of buildings and devastated entire neighbourhoods.
On-site footage showed rescue workers using sledgehammers to break through debris while calling for “absolute silence” to listen for possible signs of life beneath the wreckage. Efforts have been slowed by unstable structures, limited equipment, and the sheer scale of destruction.
Health Minister Carlos Alvarado confirmed late Thursday that “the death toll had risen to at least 235,” with approximately 4,300 people injured across affected regions.
In the worst-hit state of La Guaira, north of Caracas, desperate scenes have emerged. One resident, Amparo del Giudice, was seen digging through a massive concrete mound with her bare hands in search of her son. “It is a lot of rock, and with bare hands it is impossible,” she said, visibly distressed.
Elsewhere, residents described hearing a young girl cry for help for hours before she died, trapped under debris.
“We need people, military personnel, to come and help so we can get her out,” said Dani Rizo.
International assistance has begun arriving, with rescue teams from El Salvador, Switzerland, and Mexico already deployed. A senior US military official has also arrived in Caracas to coordinate relief efforts, as Washington pledged a broad response including warships, aircraft, helicopters, and $150 million in aid.
The disaster has drawn global concern, with countries including China, India, Brazil, Iran, and several European nations offering support. The United Nations described the situation as deeply distressing, while aid agencies warned that conditions on the ground remain “catastrophic.”
However, relief operations face additional complications after Venezuela’s main international airport in La Guaira was forced to shut down due to damage.
The 7.5-magnitude quake, the strongest in more than a century, has also raised fears that the death toll could rise further, as rescuers continue combing through unstable ruins.
