Caracas: The death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela has climbed to 235, while tens of thousands of people remain missing as rescue teams continue searching through mountains of debris in one of the country's worst natural disasters in recent history.
The powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck within seconds of each other late on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction across several states. The back to back tremors brought down apartment buildings, hospitals, schools and government offices, leaving entire communities in ruins. Thousands of families have lost their homes, while many people are still waiting for news about missing loved ones.
Emergency officials said the number of confirmed deaths has risen steadily as rescuers recover more bodies from collapsed buildings. More than 4,300 people have also been injured, with hospitals struggling to cope as medical staff work around the clock to treat survivors. Authorities have warned that the death toll is likely to increase further as search operations continue in the hardest hit areas.
Officials estimate that more than 45,000 people remain missing or cannot be contacted. However, authorities have cautioned that this figure includes many people who may simply be unreachable because communication networks have been severely damaged. Mobile phone services, internet connections and electricity have been disrupted across large parts of the affected region, making it difficult for families to contact one another.
The worst damage has been reported in La Guaira, Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo and Falcon states. Entire neighbourhoods have been flattened, with rescue workers using heavy machinery as well as hand tools to search for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings. In many places, residents have joined the rescue efforts, digging through rubble with their bare hands in the hope of finding family members and neighbours alive.
Authorities said more than 250 buildings have either collapsed completely or suffered severe structural damage. Several hospitals, schools and public offices are no longer safe to use, forcing officials to establish temporary medical centres and emergency shelters. The headquarters of the Venezuelan Red Cross was also damaged during the disaster, while Simón Bolívar International Airport suffered damage that disrupted flight operations.
Rescue operations have continued without interruption despite difficult conditions. Thousands of emergency workers, military personnel, firefighters, police officers and volunteers have been deployed across the disaster zone. Search dogs, cranes and specialised rescue equipment are being used to locate survivors buried beneath collapsed structures.
The work has been complicated by frequent aftershocks, damaged roads and widespread power outages. Rescue teams have had to pause operations several times because of safety concerns as unstable buildings continue to collapse. Shortages of heavy rescue equipment and blocked roads have also slowed access to some of the worst affected communities.
The Venezuelan government has declared a national state of emergency and announced that La Guaira has been designated a disaster zone. Schools have been closed in several regions, while public buildings, sports centres and community halls have been converted into temporary shelters for displaced families. Emergency food, drinking water, blankets and medical supplies are being distributed to thousands of survivors who have lost everything.
President Nicolás Maduro has appealed for international support as the country faces an enormous humanitarian challenge. He thanked emergency workers and volunteers for their tireless efforts and said the government's priority is to rescue survivors, provide medical care and restore essential services as quickly as possible.
Several countries and international organisations have responded to Venezuela's request for assistance. Search and rescue teams, medical personnel and humanitarian aid have begun arriving from neighbouring countries and other parts of the world. The United Nations is coordinating international relief efforts, while humanitarian agencies are delivering food, clean water, medicines and temporary shelters to affected communities.
Engineers have also started inspecting bridges, roads, hospitals and other public infrastructure to assess the extent of the damage. Although much of northern Venezuela has suffered widespread destruction, early assessments indicate that the country's major oil production facilities have escaped significant damage, reducing concerns about further economic disruption.
Seismologists said the disaster was made particularly destructive because the two powerful earthquakes occurred just 39 seconds apart along the San Sebastián fault. The rare sequence, known as an earthquake doublet, subjected already weakened buildings to a second powerful shock before they had time to stabilise, greatly increasing the scale of the destruction.
As rescue teams continue their search for survivors, families remain gathered outside collapsed buildings, hoping for news of missing relatives. With thousands still unaccounted for and many communities cut off by damaged infrastructure, officials believe it could take days or even weeks before the full scale of the disaster becomes clear. For now, Venezuela remains focused on saving lives, caring for survivors and beginning the long process of rebuilding after one of the country's most tragic natural disasters.