CARACAS, Venezuela — The death toll from Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes has risen to at least 164, with 971 people injured, as rescue teams continue searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings in one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in more than a century.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced the updated figures on Thursday, warning that the number of fatalities could increase further as emergency crews gain access to severely affected areas.
The latest casualty figures represent a sharp increase from earlier reports that had placed the death toll at 32 and the number of injured at about 700.
The disaster was triggered by two powerful earthquakes that struck within seconds of each other. According to seismic monitoring agencies, a magnitude 7.2 tremor was followed just 39 seconds later by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, causing widespread destruction across several regions.
Rodríguez said authorities had redirected rescue personnel and emergency resources from other parts of the country to La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas located north of the capital, Caracas.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed there, and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives,” she said.
Rescue Operations Underway
Emergency responders, military units, firefighters, and volunteers have been working around the clock to locate survivors amid the rubble of residential and commercial buildings.
Officials said damaged roads, disrupted communications, and power outages have complicated rescue efforts in several locations.
In Caracas, residents described scenes of panic as buildings shook violently and debris rained onto streets.
One survivor who escaped from a damaged building said the aftermath resembled “a horror movie,” while another resident who had lived through the deadly 1967 Caracas earthquake said the latest disaster was unlike anything he had previously experienced.
Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant as aftershocks continue to be recorded across affected regions.
International Assistance
The United States has announced emergency assistance for Venezuela, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming that rescue teams had already been dispatched to support search and recovery operations.
Rubio also said additional resources would be deployed to Maiquetía International Airport, which sustained significant damage during the earthquakes and has become a key hub for humanitarian relief efforts.
The international response is expected to expand as humanitarian organisations assess the scale of destruction and urgent needs on the ground.
Economic Impact
The disaster has struck at a difficult moment for Venezuela, which continues to grapple with economic challenges and political uncertainty.
Rodríguez said her administration was coordinating with the International Monetary Fund to establish an initial emergency assistance package worth approximately US$200 million to support relief and recovery efforts.
Analysts warn that rebuilding damaged infrastructure, housing, and public services could require billions of dollars in additional funding.
The twin earthquakes rank among the most powerful to hit Venezuela in modern history and are likely to have long-term implications for the country’s economy, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness systems.
As rescue operations continue, authorities remain focused on locating survivors and providing emergency support to thousands of displaced residents across the affected regions.