CARACAS, Venezuela — The death toll from the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela this week has risen to more than 900, with thousands injured and hundreds still missing as rescue teams race against time to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
Government officials on Friday confirmed that at least 920 people have been killed and 3,360 others injured following two powerful earthquakes that rocked the South American nation on Wednesday.
Emergency responders continue to comb through the rubble in some of the worst-hit areas amid fears that the number of fatalities could rise significantly.
The twin earthquakes struck within seconds of each other, with the second tremor registering a magnitude of 7.5, making it one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Venezuela in more than a century.
La Guaira among worst-hit areas
Authorities said the northern coastal state of La Guaira has suffered the most severe damage. The region, which hosts Simón Bolívar International Airport and one of Venezuela’s principal ports, witnessed widespread destruction of homes, commercial buildings, and public infrastructure.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said at least 172 people remain unaccounted for and are believed to be trapped beneath collapsed structures.
“In La Guaira alone, 243 people have been rescued alive from the debris,” Rodríguez said during a state television address.
Emergency services have reported significant damage to hospitals, shopping centres, residential blocks, and public facilities across the affected regions.
Families wait for news
As rescue operations continue, desperate families have gathered near disaster sites hoping for news of missing loved ones.
Among them is Natacha Diaz, whose two daughters, aged 22 and 23, were working as manicurists at a shopping centre that collapsed during the quake.
“They were with their friends,” Diaz told reporters. “I just want them to be found. I have faith and hope that they are there.”
“I just want them back with me. They are all I have.”
Her story reflects the anguish being experienced by thousands of families across the country as search teams continue recovery efforts.
International rescue teams deployed
The Venezuelan government said hundreds of international rescue specialists have arrived to support local emergency responders, with additional teams expected in the coming days.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez praised rescue workers and highlighted several successful rescues since the disaster.
“Dozens of people have been rescued alive, which brings us joy that they can embrace their families and loved ones,” she said during a televised briefing.
Rodríguez also revealed that authorities have recorded at least 214 aftershocks since the initial earthquakes, complicating rescue efforts and increasing risks for emergency personnel.
Hospitals overwhelmed
The disaster has placed immense pressure on Venezuela’s healthcare system, with surviving medical facilities struggling to cope with the influx of injured patients.
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Many victims are being treated in temporary medical centres after several hospitals sustained structural damage.
Health workers have warned that existing shortages of medicines, medical equipment, and supplies have worsened the crisis.
“All our hospitals lack supplies, lack medicines, and we are not able to provide medical attention to our people in a normal day,” doctor Pedro Javier Fernandez said.
Officials estimate that hundreds of buildings have been either damaged or destroyed, while more than 1,000 additional infrastructure sites have suffered varying levels of destruction.
As rescue operations enter a critical phase, authorities continue to urge residents to remain alert amid ongoing aftershocks and the risk of further structural collapses.
