International rescue teams continue desperate search efforts across Venezuela as survivors are pulled from the rubble despite fading hopes after the deadly twin earthquakes.
CARACAS: Venezuela is facing one of its deadliest natural disasters in recent history after twin powerful earthquakes devastated the country’s northern coastal region, pushing the confirmed death toll to nearly 1,500 while rescue crews continue searching for tens of thousands believed trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
The hardest-hit area remains La Guaira, about 40 kilometers north of Caracas, where international rescue teams are working alongside local emergency responders in a race against time. Authorities reported 3,150 people injured, more than 12,721 displaced, and at least 774 buildings destroyed.
Emergency experts warn that the crucial 72-hour survival window has largely passed, significantly reducing the chances of finding survivors. Nevertheless, rescue operations continue after several remarkable recoveries, including an 11-year-old boy rescued from beneath three meters of rubble and another child saved in Caraballeda. U.S. rescue teams also recovered a crying infant alive from the debris, while a father and son were rescued on Sunday.
Acting President Jorge Rodriguez announced the formation of a commission to assess structural damage, while schools will remain closed for another week. Electricity has been restored to approximately 75% of La Guaira.
The disaster has further strained Venezuela’s ongoing political and economic challenges. Access to several affected areas remains restricted to ensure emergency vehicles can operate efficiently, while political tensions continue over the planned return of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado from exile.
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