The authorities transferred rescue personnel from all over the country to the most affected areas, especially the state of La Guaira on the northern coast of Venezuela, where many buildings collapsed.
Rescue teams intensified operations across Venezuela on Thursday after two powerful earthquakes struck the country on Wednesday evening, killing at least 164 people, injuring nearly 1,000 others and trapping an unknown number under collapsed buildings.The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes were recorded among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, causing widespread devastation in coastal and urban areas. The destruction also damaged the country’s main airport and sparked a large-scale national and international emergency response.The authorities transferred rescue personnel from all over the country to the most affected areas, especially the state of La Guaira on the northern coast of Venezuela, where many buildings collapsed.Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency and described La Guaira as a “disaster area.” She added that officials are taking advantage of daylight hours to speed up efforts to reach people believed to be trapped under the rubble.“Dozens of buildings have collapsed there… and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives,” Rodriguez said.Rodriguez also appealed to private companies to provide heavy construction equipment, and said UN-certified search and rescue teams were on their way to assist in operations.
A state of emergency was declared
The Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency late Wednesday, announcing the creation of a $200 million reconstruction fund to repair damaged homes, hospitals and infrastructure.Rodriguez said the Economy and Finance Ministries have been tasked with overseeing reconstruction efforts while authorities assess the extent of the destruction.Electricity and mobile phone connectivity were cut off in parts of Caracas following the earthquakes.
Subway services were suspended, natural gas supplies were cut, and classes were canceled for several days. Some school buildings will be used as temporary shelters and donation centers.Simón Bolívar International Airport, the country’s main aviation hub, was damaged and closed after the earthquakes.
International aid begins to arrive
Governments around the world offered help as the scale of the disaster became clearer.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington is deploying emergency aid and specialized teams to support Venezuela.“We will have a full government response,” Rubio said in Bahrain. “It’s going to be big. It’s going to be fast. It’s going to be effective.”Rubio added that one of the runways at Caracas International Airport cracked during the quake, complicating relief flights.Rodriguez thanked US President Donald Trump for the help, and later said that she had spoken with Rubio on the phone. It also acknowledged messages of support and offers of assistance from many world leaders.Ecuador ordered the delivery of humanitarian aid, while Qatar, Mexico and El Salvador sent rescue personnel.
Families searching for their missing relatives
As rescue operations continued, many families in Venezuela and abroad struggled to contact their relatives due to damage to communications infrastructure.Missing person notices began appearing online and in public places, with relatives distributing photos and handwritten lists of the names of people still missing.The UN Human Rights Mission in Venezuela urged the government to ease restrictions on social media, saying access to reliable information would be vital in the wake of the disaster.“In the coming hours and days, timely access to reliable information and communications channels will be essential to protect the lives, safety and well-being of the population,” the mission said.The appeal cited restrictions imposed on X in 2024 after the disputed presidential election.
