Rescue teams in Venezuela are urgently searching through rubble following devastating twin earthquakes that have claimed nearly 1,450 lives. Tens of thousands remain unaccounted for beneath collapsed structures, intensifying the desperate rescue efforts.
International aid has ramped up in La Guaira, the coastal state hardest hit by the disaster, located about 40 kilometers north of Caracas. The catastrophe struck amid Venezuela’s ongoing political and economic turmoil, complicating relief operations.
Interim President Jorge Rodriguez confirmed that 3,150 individuals have been injured, more than 12,721 displaced from their homes, and at least 774 buildings completely destroyed. Experts caution that the critical 72-hour window to find survivors has passed, turning the search into a race against overwhelming odds.
Leading an 80-member Swiss rescue team, Sebastian Eugster highlighted that search dogs have detected people trapped under debris, but the chances of rescuing them alive diminish rapidly with time. Despite the grim situation, moments of survival have brought hope to the rescue teams.
In a notable rescue, Colombian responders used advanced scanning technology to extract 11-year-old Moises from three meters beneath the rubble. Although he survived with a broken arm, his mother and sister were among the victims. Similarly, Mexican rescuers saved another 11-year-old boy in Caraballeda, and US teams shared footage of an infant being pulled alive from the wreckage. On Sunday, a father and son were also rescued from a collapsed building.
President Rodriguez has established a presidential commission to evaluate the structural damage throughout the affected areas. Schools will remain closed for an additional week, and electricity has been restored to approximately 75 percent of La Guaira.
Political tensions persist amid the humanitarian crisis. The current administration, installed after the US-backed removal of the previous president earlier this year, has restricted access to key disaster zones to keep routes clear for emergency vehicles. Meanwhile, opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado announced plans to return from exile, a move reportedly causing unease among Washington officials who consider it premature given the ongoing emergency.
Adding to the crisis, Venezuela’s largest oil refinery, Amuay, has halted operations due to major power outages in the western Falcon state. Over 2,600 international rescue workers are assisting local volunteers on the ground.
From the Vatican, Pope Leo expressed profound solidarity with the Venezuelan people during his Sunday Angelus prayer, offering blessings to victims and gratitude to first responders. On the economic front, the US government is expected to announce a substantial financial aid package worth hundreds of millions of dollars, supplementing an initial commitment of $150 million aimed at supporting long-term recovery efforts.
