Venezuela Earthquakes Leave 920 Dead, Families Await News
Venezuela earthquakes kill 920 people as families – Two catastrophic earthquakes struck Venezuela within seconds of each other on Wednesday, resulting in over 900 fatalities and 3,360 injuries, according to official reports. Rescue teams continue their search for survivors, while families endure uncertainty, desperately seeking updates on loved ones. The tremors devastated numerous structures in the northern regions, including buildings in Caracas, the capital city.
Families in Distress
Natacha Diaz, a mother from La Guaira, recounted the anguish of losing her two daughters, aged 22 and 23, who were trapped beneath the ruins of a collapsed shopping center where they worked as nail technicians. “They were with their friends,” she said, expressing hope that they could be found.
“They are all I have, please.”
Government Response and Rescue Efforts
Interim President Jorge Rodríguez, brother of National Assembly leader Delcy Rodríguez, confirmed the death toll had risen to 920, with 172 individuals still presumed buried. In La Guaira alone, 243 survivors have been recovered, though the recovery process has been hindered by disrupted communications and damaged roads. “The emergency is even bigger and more difficult to face than in other countries,” said doctor Pedro Javier Fernandez, describing the strain on medical facilities.
Infrastructure and Aftershocks
Officials reported 214 aftershocks since the initial quakes, compounding the challenges of rescue operations. The region of La Guaira, home to Venezuela’s primary port and Simón Bolívar International Airport, suffered the most severe damage. Hundreds of buildings, including hospitals and shopping centers, have been destroyed or severely damaged, leaving critical infrastructure compromised.
International Aid and Support
A UK military flight carrying search and rescue teams, canines, and drones departed RAF Brize Norton on Friday, aiming to assist in the recovery. Other nations, such as the United States, Netherlands, Mexico, and Switzerland, have also dispatched personnel. The U.S. has further deployed warships and transport planes, alongside $150 million in emergency aid. In Caraballeda, volunteers began using heavy machinery to clear rubble, with international workers describing “horrific damage” in the affected areas.
Vulnerability Amid Crisis
Venezuela’s preparedness for the disaster was called into question, with officials citing decades of underinvestment that left its infrastructure in disrepair. “The country was vulnerable due to its crumbling infrastructure,” noted Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council. The ongoing economic crisis, which has persisted for over a decade, has also worsened living conditions in the oil-rich nation. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher emphasized the need for a global response, urging, “I want people to know in Venezuela that help is coming.”
