The twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday have turned into one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in more than a century. As rescue operations continue across the affected regions,
the death toll has risen to 920, while more than 50,000 people remain missing. International rescue teams have begun arriving, but many survivors have stepped in to search for loved ones amid complaints over delays in the official response.
The back-to-back earthquakes, measuring magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, caused widespread destruction across Caracas and nearby areas. Authorities said 172 people are still trapped beneath collapsed structures, while 3,360 others have been injured.
Residents Lead Rescue Efforts
Even as humanitarian assistance reaches Venezuela from around the world, many residents say help has been slow to reach the hardest-hit neighbourhoods. In several locations, survivors have organised themselves into search teams, digging through debris with their hands and basic equipment in the hope of finding those still trapped.
“I am looking for my little Gael… he was only five months old,” Marjosly Salazar, 40, told AFP. Her 16-year-old daughter was among those killed in the earthquake, while the infant and her cousin remain unaccounted for.
“Please, we need support here. We need machinery to start lifting the columns. We haven’t seen any government officials here, none at all,” she said.
Disaster response experts say the first 48 to 72 hours after a major earthquake offer the highest chances of rescuing survivors. After that window, survival becomes increasingly unlikely unless those trapped have access to food and water.
“Unfortunately, the collapse is total, and there is little chance of finding survivors. Efforts are now focused on recovering the bodies of the deceased,” rescue team leader Nadiomar Polanco told AFP while working at a collapsed residential complex in La Guaira, the state worst affected by the disaster.
On Friday night, authorities further restricted access to the disaster zone, saying uncontrolled traffic, crowds and noise were affecting rescue work. Officials said only those with permits would be allowed to enter, although no details were provided on how such permits could be obtained.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, long queues have formed outside grocery stores, pharmacies and food trucks as people scramble for basic supplies. In Catia La Mar, a community near the airport, some residents reportedly looted essential items, including food and toilet paper.
Despite the restrictions, volunteers have continued trying to reach those trapped beneath the rubble, using sledgehammers and power tools to break through collapsed concrete.
“My God, how are we going to get them out of there?” Nazareth Jimenez said while watching neighbours desperately trying to rescue a relative.
“We’re making a call for help to the government and countries across the world,” she said, appealing for more equipment and infrastructure to support the rescue effort. “There are still people alive in there.”
Global Assistance Arrives
According to Venezuelan authorities, 861 international volunteers from Mexico, the United States, El Salvador, Switzerland, Colombia and several other countries are currently assisting with relief operations. More personnel are expected to arrive in the coming days.
The United Nations said nearly 1,000 emergency responders representing 25 international search-and-rescue teams are on their way to Venezuela. The UN humanitarian agency OCHA also said teams from at least 17 countries have been mobilised, with Spanish, Salvadoran, Swiss, Colombian and Mexican rescue personnel already deployed.
President Delcy Rodriguez has reportedly spoken with US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding relief assistance. A post by the US South Command said Major General Kevin J. Jarrard and Chargé d’Affaires John M. Barrett met President Rodriguez and senior Venezuelan officials to coordinate humanitarian support.
India, China, Brazil and Iran have also offered assistance, while Pope Leo XIV has announced an initial aid package of €100,000 for the affected country.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply saddened” by the devastation and reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to supporting relief and recovery efforts in Venezuela.
