Key facts
- Over 1,700 people have died and tens of thousands are missing following twin earthquakes in Venezuela.
- Many affected areas, particularly La Guaira, have received limited government assistance, with residents leading rescue efforts.
- A magnitude 4.6 aftershock occurred on Monday, further fraying nerves.
- International aid, including from the US, Netherlands, and China, is mobilizing to assist victims.
- A 21-year-old man was rescued after being trapped for over 100 hours.
- The UN is preparing 10,000 body bags, anticipating a further rise in the death toll.
Many areas in Venezuela devastated by last week's twin earthquakes have yet to receive significant government assistance, leaving residents to carry out much of the rescue effort themselves. In the port of La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit cities, people were seen using basic tools to dig out loved ones and neighbours, with tens of thousands still believed to be missing. Nerves were frayed by an aftershock on Monday, though no further damage was reported.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez stated that over 1,700 people have been killed in what she called the "most brutal natural catastrophe" in Venezuela's history. International aid has begun to mobilize, but hopes of finding survivors are fading. A 21-year-old man was pulled alive after being trapped for over 100 hours. The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes on Wednesday struck in the northern state of La Guaira, causing almost 800 buildings to collapse. Monday's magnitude 4.6 aftershock again shook La Guaira and the capital Caracas.
In Catia La Mar, local volunteers and international teams were leading search-and-rescue efforts, with some expressing anger at the authorities' slow response. While Venezuelan police and army presence was noted, heavy machinery was deployed sporadically, often arriving too late. Residents described civil protection workers lacking proper equipment and the government not providing adequate resources.
Zuly Marín, a resident of 15 years, attributed the slow response to Venezuela's dire economic situation, believing that earlier intervention could have saved more lives. In El Junquito, residents reported seeing few public officials, with farmers providing basic supplies. They are awaiting debris cleanup, inspections, and aid for those affected.
Rodríguez announced that over 25,000 emergency workers, police, and soldiers were assisting victims. She also formed a commission to assess damage, to be chaired by her brother, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, which will use a colour-coded system to classify building safety. Temporary camps are being set up for the displaced.
The 21-year-old survivor, Aaron Levi Cantillo Vargas, was found by teams from Venezuela, Mexico, and El Salvador. The UN's resident humanitarian coordinator, Gianluca Rampolla Del Tindaro, reported over 500 aftershocks and at least 2,500 affected structures, with a rise in the death toll being unavoidable. The UN is obtaining 10,000 body bags for its operations.
More international aid has been pledged, with the US announcing over $300 million, an increase from its previous $150 million commitment, to provide emergency medical care, food, water, shelter, and logistics. A US frigate, the USS Fort Lauderdale, is delivering aid to coastal areas. The Netherlands is sending a vessel with supplies, and China has promised nearly $15 million in assistance.