Venezuela death toll climbs as rescue efforts hampered by equipment shortages
The twin 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes have killed at least 589 people, left thousands injured and displaced, and exposed the country's limited rescue capacity.
More than 200 people remain trapped and 157 are missing after back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern coastal states on Wednesday, officials said Thursday. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez reported a death toll that has risen to 589 and nearly 3,000 injuries, while the National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez said the hardest-hit areas are La Guaira and Catia La Mar.
Rescue teams are struggling with a shortage of functional heavy machinery; many state-owned bulldozers and excavators are out of service due to lack of spare parts. Local volunteers, neighbors and community groups are digging through rubble with limited assistance from government responders.
Aid agencies are preparing shelters, water and basic supplies for up to 200,000 displaced residents. The mayor of Caracas, Carmen Meléndez, announced the opening of emergency shelters in sports venues, and the interim government said temporary shelters and hotels would be made available for those whose homes were destroyed.
The United States announced $150 million in humanitarian aid and pledged additional military assets, including aircraft and an amphibious transport ship, to support relief operations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. would continue to respond to crises in the hemisphere.
Experts emphasized the importance of the first 72 hours after a quake for rescuing survivors. Dr. Jarone Lee of Harvard Medical School noted that while the “golden window” is critical, survivors have occasionally been found days later in voids within collapsed structures.
Structural engineers said many of the damaged buildings were constructed with brittle concrete and insufficient reinforcement, increasing the risk of collapse. The earthquakes also exposed long-standing weaknesses in Venezuela’s infrastructure, which has suffered from years of economic decline and under-investment.
Residents described ongoing aftershocks and fear of re-entering damaged apartments. Some families are sleeping in tents, on streets or in makeshift shelters while awaiting official inspections and assistance.
The humanitarian response is further complicated by international sanctions that limit financial transactions, although the U.S. State Department said existing licenses permit humanitarian transfers.
The situation remains fluid as rescue crews continue to search for survivors and authorities work to provide shelter and medical care to the growing number of displaced people.
