The death toll from Venezuela’s twin earthquakes has risen above 1,400, as rescue teams continue searching through collapsed buildings in some of the hardest-hit coastal areas.
The earthquakes, measured at magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 by the U.S. Geological Survey, struck on Wednesday and were followed by hundreds of aftershocks. The worst damage has been reported in La Guaira and parts of Caracas, where families, volunteers and emergency crews have spent days looking for survivors.
Officials said more than 1,600 foreign rescuers had arrived in Venezuela, with more teams expected to join the operation. Rescue workers from several countries have been sent to damaged areas, while U.S. helicopters have been seen carrying crews into Caraballeda, one of the worst-affected parts of La Guaira.
In Caraballeda, relatives continued searching for missing family members. Among them was Alejandro Serrano, a 33-year-old industrial engineer who travelled from western Venezuela to look for his 24-year-old sister, Ana Serrano. She had been living in the Bahía Mar building, which was destroyed in the earthquakes.
Serrano said he had already searched a hospital in Caracas but had not found her. He later gave her details to rescue teams from Argentina and El Salvador, hoping she might still be alive.
Residents in several damaged communities said the response had been uneven. Some areas had heavy machinery and rescue teams, while others relied heavily on volunteers. In Los Corales, many people have been sleeping outdoors since the earthquakes because of continuing aftershocks and fears that damaged homes could collapse.
Beisy Rivas, 60, said only a few homes in her neighborhood were still standing, and even those had been damaged. Others said families had lost homes, belongings and any sense of safety.
Authorities have restricted access to La Guaira and controlled traffic on the main road from Caracas, saying emergency vehicles need clear routes. Power is gradually returning in the region, though Venezuela’s electricity grid was already fragile before the disaster.
The government has said hundreds of people remain missing or trapped. A website promoted by the opposition lists more than 55,000 people as unaccounted for, though that figure has not been independently confirmed here.
The disaster has also drawn international attention. Pope Leo offered prayers for the victims and rescue workers, while the United States has pledged aid and is expected to announce further support.