International rescue teams and humanitarian aid continued to arrive in Venezuela on Friday as emergency crews searched for survivors following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country earlier this week, leaving at least 589 people dead and nearly 3,000 injured.
Venezuelan authorities said the twin earthquakes devastated Caracas and surrounding regions, with hundreds of people still believed to be trapped beneath collapsed buildings. Rescue operations remain underway as firefighters, civil defense personnel, police officers and military units work around the clock to reach those feared buried under the rubble.
Officials reported that at least 2,980 people have been injured, while the number of missing continues to rise. A government-supported online portal created to help families locate missing relatives had received about 50,000 reports by Friday morning, highlighting the scale of the disaster and the uncertainty facing thousands of families.
International search-and-rescue teams equipped with specialist equipment have joined local emergency services in efforts to locate survivors. Relief agencies are also delivering emergency medical supplies, food, drinking water and temporary shelters to communities affected by the disaster.
The neighboring coastal city of La Guaira suffered some of the worst destruction. Authorities said at least 100 buildings, including several high-rise residential towers, collapsed during the earthquakes. Rescue crews have been using heavy machinery alongside trained search dogs to search through damaged structures.
The coastal state of Carabobo also experienced widespread destruction. Numerous homes were reduced to rubble, while large areas remain without electricity and running water. Residents have been attempting to recover personal belongings from damaged properties as emergency workers assess the extent of the destruction.
The earthquakes, measuring magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck approximately 160 kilometers west of Caracas on Wednesday, which was a public holiday. The timing meant many people were at home or visiting relatives when the powerful tremors hit.
The US Geological Survey has warned that the final death toll could rise dramatically as rescue efforts continue. Its assessment estimates fatalities could eventually exceed 10,000, potentially making the disaster one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike Latin America in the past century.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez’s government has pledged a nationwide relief effort and said emergency resources are being directed to the hardest-hit areas. Authorities have appealed for continued international assistance as hospitals remain under pressure and thousands of residents require shelter.
Rescue teams say the coming days will be critical as they continue searching collapsed buildings in the hope of finding more survivors. At the same time, humanitarian organizations are expanding relief operations to provide food, clean water and medical care to communities struggling to recover from one of Venezuela’s worst natural disasters in recent history.
