Rescue efforts intensified on Thursday across northern Venezuela as citizens struggled to reach survivors buried beneath building debris following two powerful earthquakes. The tremors, recorded by the United States Geological Survey as magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck in quick succession and claimed at least 164 lives while leaving over 970 individuals injured.
Interim president Delcy Rodriguez confirmed the high casualty count and noted that the state of La Guaira, located near the capital of Caracas, suffered the most severe structural damage. In this region, desperate locals utilized basic tools to reach trapped family members, though many were hampered by a lack of proper equipment. Electricity remains out in the coastal city, forcing many residents to camp in the streets.
International aid began arriving as the United Nations pledged full support for what UN aid chief Tom Fletcher described as the most significant seismic event to strike the country in 126 years. Although relief is arriving, logistical hurdles persist, including the closure of the international airport near Caracas due to structural failures. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the United States military would provide extensive logistical assistance.
The impact of the quakes extended well beyond Venezuelan borders, with tremors reported in Bogotá, Colombia, and various regions of northern Brazil. As the nation grapples with this catastrophe, officials including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello have urged citizens to vacate damaged structures. While various countries from Mexico to Iran have pledged aid, the recovery process remains challenging as search teams work to reach those still pinned within the wreckage.
