Over 1,400 dead in Venezuela earthquakes as families search rubble for loved ones
With at least 1,430 confirmed dead and an estimated 50,000 missing after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, rescue efforts are hampered by a lack of resources. International teams have arrived, but many residents are digging through debris with their bare hands, hoping for miracles.
The coastal state of La Guaira, bordering the capital district of Caracas, is among the worst-affected areas after Wednesday's back-to-back earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. Officials have confirmed at least 1,430 deaths, while the United Nations estimates that around 50,000 people are missing. The number of dead and injured rises by the hour.
National rescue teams are scarce, but international rescuers from Mexico, Spain, the US, and the UK have joined the effort. Traffic and crowds sometimes hinder operations, and soldiers and Mexican volunteers repeatedly call for silence to listen for signs of life under the debris.
Residents are helping however they can. Those with drones use them to search for survivors or the deceased in hard-to-reach places. Families huddle around drone video feeds, looking for anything familiar – a piece of clothing, a strand of hair, any clue about a loved one.
Glendys Delgado, a local resident, says two buildings near her home have collapsed, but no official help has arrived. She thanks volunteers from Caracas who brought food. Deiyer Gabril, 27, notes that every area has been affected – Macuto, Caribe – and the smell of death is pervasive.
Authorities reported that 861 volunteers from countries including Mexico, the US, El Salvador, Switzerland, and Colombia are now in Venezuela, with more arriving. Interim President Rodríguez said she spoke with US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reaffirmed their commitment to send rescue teams and aid.
Many families are left homeless. Four people are now sleeping in their car at the damaged Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía. One woman waits outside her collapsed building while her husband tries to retrieve belongings from their 15th-floor apartment. She says it's painful to lose everything, but she must stay strong for her children.
