CARACAS: Rescue teams continued searching for survivors on Sunday after two powerful earthquakes devastated Venezuela, as the death toll climbed to nearly 1,500 and thousands of people remained injured, displaced, or missing.
The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction across the country. La Guaira, located about 40 kilometers north of Caracas, suffered the worst damage, with hundreds of buildings reduced to rubble and emergency workers racing against time to locate survivors.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said rescue and recovery efforts would continue as long as there was hope of finding people alive. She announced the formation of a presidential commission to assess the safety of damaged buildings and confirmed that electricity had been restored to 75% of La Guaira. Schools in the affected region will remain closed for another week.
Officials reported that more than 3,100 people were injured, over 12,700 displaced, and at least 774 buildings collapsed. Rescue teams, supported by more than 2,600 international emergency workers, have managed to save dozens of survivors, including several children pulled from beneath collapsed structures.
Among the latest rescues, a father and son were found alive under the rubble on Sunday, while U.S., Colombian, and Mexican rescue teams successfully saved children trapped for days. Search dogs and specialized equipment have played a crucial role in locating survivors despite hundreds of aftershocks complicating rescue operations.
The U.S. Geological Survey warned that the final death toll could exceed 10,000, making the disaster one of the deadliest earthquakes in Latin America in recent history. Rescue experts stressed that the first 72 hours after a major earthquake offer the highest chance of finding survivors, although operations are continuing beyond that window.
International support continues to grow, with several countries sending rescue teams and humanitarian assistance. The United States is expected to announce an additional aid package worth hundreds of millions of dollars, while Pope Leo expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and praised the efforts of emergency responders.
The disaster has also disrupted Venezuela’s energy sector, with the country's largest refinery suspending operations after a major power outage linked to the earthquakes.
