Rescue workers and residents in Venezuela are conducting search operations following two major earthquakes that struck the country’s coastal region on Wednesday. As of Friday, government officials reported at least 920 people have died and more than 3,300 have been injured, with search efforts concentrated in the hard-hit state of La Guaira.
The earthquakes, which registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure. In response, authorities on Friday restricted access to the La Guaira area, stating that permits would be required for entry to manage traffic that was impeding emergency services.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced that the government was organizing a full response during what she called the “critical hours for rescuing people alive.” Rodriguez stated that La Guaira had been “militarized” to secure the area and facilitate relief efforts, adding that government forces were distributing food and water to affected residents.
“We are not going to hide absolutely anything about the magnitude of this tragedy,” said Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly.
Official figures state that 243 people have been rescued from the rubble. However, independent digital databases have registered more than 51,000 people as missing. Officials caution these numbers could include individuals who are unable to communicate due to power and telecommunication outages.
In several affected neighborhoods, residents reported a limited presence of official rescue teams and were seen digging through debris with their hands. Some told reporters that the aid being distributed was not sufficient for the number of people in need.
Aid agencies have noted that the 72-hour window, widely considered the most critical period for finding survivors after a disaster, is nearing its end. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued a statement estimating that as many as 6.76 million people could be affected by the earthquakes, including approximately two million in the capital, Caracas.
Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross regional director for the Americas, said that “people are still terrified to re-enter what were their homes.”
International assistance has begun to arrive in the country. Venezuelan authorities confirmed that 861 volunteers from Mexico, the United States, El Salvador, Switzerland, Colombia, and other nations were on the ground to support the rescue operations. Acting President Rodriguez said her government welcomed the international humanitarian aid.
The earthquakes occurred amid a prolonged period of economic challenges in Venezuela. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, the former vice president, assumed her current role in January.
