Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 1,430 as Search for Survivors Continues

The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela earlier this week has climbed to 1,430, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. Speaking on state television, he said the disaster has also left 3,200 people injured and 3,100 homeless.

The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes, which struck within a minute of each other on Wednesday evening, devastated northern Venezuela, flattening buildings and causing widespread destruction. Rescue teams continue searching through the rubble for survivors, while nearly 68,900 people have been reported missing by their families.

In La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit regions, residents have joined rescue workers in digging through collapsed buildings using shovels and their bare hands. On Saturday, an 11-year-old boy was pulled alive from the rubble in the coastal city of Caraballeda. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez described the rescue as “a source of hope for Venezuela” in a post on X.

The United Nations estimates that the earthquakes have caused approximately $6.7 billion in damage, equivalent to about 6% of Venezuela’s GDP. The preliminary assessment includes damage to infrastructure and housing but does not yet account for the broader economic impact.

To support relief efforts, more than 14,000 military and police personnel have been deployed across affected areas, where access remains restricted. International rescue teams from the United States, Mexico, Brazil, El Salvador, France, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom have arrived or are en route to assist with search-and-rescue operations.

However, a specialist rescue team from the UK-based charity Serve On has been stranded at Madrid Airport after earthquake damage severely disrupted operations at Simón Bolívar International Airport, Venezuela’s main international gateway. Team leader Vernon Young said rapid deployment is critical, stressing that every hour increases the chances of finding survivors trapped beneath the debris.

U.S. State Department official Jeremy Lewin said the U.S. military is coordinating flights to transport rescue workers, mobile hospitals, and emergency supplies into Venezuela. He described the operation as “a race against the clock,” noting that thousands may still be trapped under collapsed structures.

Meanwhile, Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross’s Regional Director for the Americas, said many survivors remain too frightened to return to their homes due to the risk of further collapses and aftershocks.

Authorities have also confirmed that the victims include foreign nationals, among them 15 Portuguese nationals or people of Portuguese descent, seven Chinese citizens, two Brazilians, five Spaniards, and one Italian-Venezuelan. Rescue efforts continue as hopes of finding more survivors begin to fade.