The death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to at least 164, while 971 people have been injured, acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced on Thursday as rescue teams continued searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Authorities fear the number of casualties could rise significantly as emergency workers gain access to severely affected areas and damaged structures. According to officials, at least 30 aftershocks have been recorded since the powerful earthquakes struck, complicating rescue and recovery efforts.
The twin quakes, described as the strongest seismic events to hit Venezuela in a century, struck within seconds of each other during the early hours of Thursday, causing widespread destruction across the country, particularly in the capital, Caracas.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale and occurred at a shallow depth of 13 kilometres. Its epicentre was located west of Moron, a coastal town approximately 168 kilometres west of Caracas. Just 40 seconds later, a stronger 7.5-magnitude quake struck the same region at a depth of 10 kilometres, dramatically intensifying the devastation.
Entire buildings collapsed, roads were damaged and power and communication networks were disrupted in several areas. Emergency responders have been working around the clock to locate survivors trapped beneath debris.
Rodriguez said the Venezuelan government is coordinating with the United Nations to facilitate the deployment of international rescue teams and humanitarian assistance. She also revealed that discussions are underway with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to establish an initial reconstruction fund worth USD 200 million to support recovery efforts.
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In the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued tsunami alerts for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. However, the warnings were later withdrawn after further assessment.
Meanwhile, the United States has announced a major emergency response operation to assist Venezuela. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington has already begun deploying specialised search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles, with additional teams expected to follow.
“We have a whole-of-government response. It’ll be big, it’ll be fast and it’ll be effective,” Rubio told reporters in Bahrain.
He said the United States would also provide aerial and satellite imagery to help assess damage, particularly in coastal regions where authorities have limited access. With reports indicating that parts of Venezuela’s airport infrastructure have suffered damage, the US government is also preparing logistical support to facilitate relief operations.
Rubio added that several countries, including Qatar, El Salvador and Chile, have also offered assistance as international efforts intensify to support rescue and recovery operations.
The earthquakes have triggered one of the worst natural disasters in Venezuela’s recent history, leaving thousands displaced and causing extensive damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure. Rescue teams continue to race against time in search of survivors as aftershocks persist across the affected region.
