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الوسم: twin earthquakes

  • Venezuela Earthquakes Kill 4,333, Toll Continues Rising

    Venezuela Earthquakes Kill 4,333, Toll Continues Rising

    Rescuers pause beneath a collapsed building during search and recovery efforts in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, Venezuela, on July 11, 2026, after twin earthquakes rocked the area. — AFP

    The death count from Venezuela’s recent twin earthquakes has exceeded 4,300, according to a top government official on Saturday.

    Jorge Rodriguez, President of the National Assembly and brother of interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, reported the toll at 4,333 — up from 4,118 the previous day.

    The two quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck Caracas and the coastal region of La Guaira on June 24, destroying entire high-rise apartment complexes into piles of debris.

    Homeless families have set up makeshift camps in stadiums, plazas, and along sidewalks, with over 19,000 people currently living in these temporary shelters, Rodriguez noted.

    International and Venezuelan volunteers are working together to deliver medical aid in open-area tents and distributing food supplies.

    While Rodriguez did not specify how many individuals are still missing, the United Nations estimates that around 50,000 people remain unaccounted for.

    He dismissed the notion that the government would halt the search for bodies amid concerns from families that the rubble might be cleared without proper oversight.

    Initial government estimates suggest around 25,000 homes will eventually be needed to accommodate displaced people.

    Rodriguez indicated that the government plans to start providing some apartments to families in the coming days, specifically those whose homes were under construction prior to the earthquakes.

    However, he emphasized that substantial resources are required for building additional housing, along with rental assistance and loans for property purchases.

    More than 40 plots of land in La Guaira, totaling approximately 584,000 square meters, have been designated by the government for new housing developments, Rodriguez added.

    He explained that these sites are located on stable plains, away from the coastal zones where hundreds of buildings were damaged or completely collapsed.

    Additionally, this week, interim President Delcy Rodriguez requested that Britain’s King Charles III release Venezuela’s gold reserves held at the Bank of England.

  • Venezuela Quakes Claim 1,450 Lives; Urgency Grows to Find Survivors

    Venezuela Quakes Claim 1,450 Lives; Urgency Grows to Find Survivors

    Rescuers and volunteers search for survivors in La Guaira, La Guaira state, Venezuela, on June 28, 2026, after twin earthquakes. — AFP

    – Thousands are still missing in affected areas.
    – Rescue workers pulled 33 people from collapsed buildings.
    – International aid, including supplies, rescue dogs, and personnel, is arriving.

    A man and his teenage son were discovered alive Sunday beneath the rubble in Venezuela, four days after the twin earthquakes struck. The death toll has risen to 1,450, and hopes for additional rescues are fading.

    French and American rescue teams carried the father and son on stretchers down from a mountain of debris in the devastated coastal town of Caraballeda, approximately 25 miles north of Caracas. Both appeared exhausted and in shock.

    Many still listed as missing, with the country already suffering a severe economic crisis and political uncertainty following the January capture of former President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces. The earthquake has left millions without basic necessities like sanitation.

    Teams from the U.S., Mexico, and other countries are working desperately to save lives, while residents manually dig through the rubble of collapsed apartments. Nearly 775 buildings have been severely damaged, including 189 that have completely collapsed, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez.

    In La Guaira, one of the most affected areas, Hector Aguilera searched for four family members trapped in the debris. He managed to rescue two other relatives but said, “We don’t have the support to get our family out — we can’t do it alone. They are buried. We know they’re dead, but here we are.”

    Experts note that the critical 72-hour window for finding survivors has passed, and rescue efforts are now focusing on recovering bodies.

    In Caracas’s San Bernardino neighborhood, volunteers worked over a collapsed building, breaking up concrete with drills and removing rubble by hand. In Chacao, large electronic screens displayed images of missing people in hopes of aid.

    Rodriguez confirmed 1,450 deaths — a number likely to increase — and reported 3,150 injuries.

    Interim President Delcy Rodriguez called on the public to remain hopeful, citing the rescue of an 11-year-old boy in Caraballeda as a sign of potential hope amid despair. She also thanked international partners for their aid.

    Twenty-four countries have contributed more than 500 tons of supplies, along with rescue dogs and thousands of personnel. The U.S. has dispatched a 250-member disaster response team, and some airport operations have been partially restored to receive aid.

    The United Nations predicts that up to 6.76 million people could be affected, needing shelter, clean water, healthcare, and basic supplies. The earthquake’s destruction has compounded Venezuela’s decade-long economic collapse, which has devastated hospitals and public services, leading millions to flee.

    Physical damages amount to approximately $6.7 billion, about 6% of the country’s GDP. The government has restricted access to La Guaira, deploying troops and mandating volunteer passes, which has led to frustrations among volunteers eager to help.

    Amid the chaos, delays and bureaucratic hurdles have sparked anger, with some volunteers expressing frustration over restrictive permits to provide aid.