Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Reaches 920 as Families Desperately Search for Missing
Two powerful earthquakes have killed at least 920 people in Venezuela, with the hardest-hit region being La Guaira. Rescue efforts are hampered by damaged roads and communication issues, while international teams have arrived to assist.
The death toll from two earthquakes in Venezuela has risen to 920, according to National Assembly head Jorge Rodriguez in a state TV broadcast on Friday. At least 172 people are still believed to be trapped under rubble. The worst-hit area is the state of La Guaira, home to the country's main port and Simón Bolívar International Airport. In La Guaira alone, 243 people have been rescued, authorities said.
Rescue operations are being hindered by damaged roads, disrupted communications, and a lack of resources. Rescuers have been seen pulling people out of collapsed buildings with their bare hands. There have been 214 aftershocks since the initial quakes, primarily affecting the northern coastline, including La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcón.
Victims include foreign nationals: one Portuguese and two Brazilian citizens, as well as four Spanish citizens, with 106 more Spaniards still missing, Spanish media reported.
International aid is arriving quickly. A UK military flight departed RAF Brize Norton on Friday, carrying search and rescue teams, dogs, and drones from 14 UK fire services. The United States has deployed warships and transport planes, along with $150 million (£113 million) in aid. The Netherlands, Mexico, and Switzerland have also sent teams.
Among the heartbreaking stories, Natacha Diaz from La Guaira told the BBC that her two daughters, aged 22 and 23, are trapped under a collapsed shopping center where they worked as manicurists. "I just want them to be found. I have faith and hope that they are there," she said.
A glimmer of hope came with the rescue of three young siblings in La Guaira, who emerged from the rubble covered in dust. Footage broadcast on state television showed a man helping them out, asking if they were siblings. "Yes, there are three of us," the girl replied.
Tributes are being paid to those who died. The wife of Venezuelan footballer Héctor Bello was killed while saving their toddler daughter. Bello wrote on Instagram: "I'll tell her the story of how you saved her, my love - how you gave your own life for our daughter."
Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, exiled in Spain, told BBC News the devastation has been "huge" and people are in "shock". He criticized the state's inability to provide timely rescue support but noted "tremendous support by civil society". The disaster comes at a time of great uncertainty in Venezuela, following the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by US forces six months ago and the appointment of Delcy Rodríguez as acting president.
