DistantNews
Support us
Double earthquake in Venezuela: Hundreds dead, 50,000 missing, and anger over state inaction
🇬🇷 Greece /Disasters & Emergencies

Double earthquake in Venezuela: Hundreds dead, 50,000 missing, and anger over state inaction

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • A double earthquake in Venezuela has resulted in at least 920 deaths and over 50,000 missing persons, with the toll expected to rise.
  • The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, devastated numerous buildings, particularly in the coastal city of La Guaira.
  • Residents are expressing anger and desperation over the perceived slow and inadequate response from authorities in search and rescue operations.

At least 920 people have died and more than 50,000 are missing following a double earthquake in Venezuela, with the number of casualties expected to increase significantly. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude tremors struck seconds apart on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction and leveling countless buildings.

La Guaira, a coastal city near the capital Caracas, appears to be one of the hardest-hit areas. Residents there are criticizing the government's response, describing it as insufficient for the scale of the disaster. Survivors and volunteers are engaged in desperate efforts to find loved ones trapped in the rubble, appealing for equipment to cut through steel and move heavy debris.

We need help! There are people alive and we don't have the tools to get them out of the rubble.

— Marlon OchoaA survivor describes the desperate situation in La Guaira, searching for his family and highlighting the lack of necessary equipment for rescue efforts.

International aid is beginning to arrive, with rescue teams from 17 countries en route. The United States announced it would deploy a 250-member mission, alongside $150 million in aid and naval assets. However, the healthcare system in Venezuela is reportedly on the brink of collapse, complicating rescue and recovery efforts.

Search teams arriving from countries like Chile have expressed grim assessments, with minimal hope of finding survivors in some collapsed structures. Efforts are now largely focused on recovering bodies. Among the confirmed dead are individuals of Portuguese, Brazilian, Italian-Venezuelan, and Chinese nationality, with Spain also confirming the deaths of five of its citizens.

Unfortunately, there are minimal hopes of finding survivors.

— Nantiomar PolancoThe head of a Chilean rescue team assesses the low probability of finding survivors in collapsed buildings in La Guaira.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog