Earthquake devastates Venezuela: Hundreds feared dead, thousands missing

Venezuela is reeling from a devastating earthquake that struck its capital, Caracas, and particularly the coastal state of La Guaira, potentially causing thousands of deaths. An online registry, www.desaparecidosterremotovenezuela.com, has been created to help families locate missing loved ones, with nearly 40,000 people currently unaccounted for.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the death of an Italian-Venezuelan citizen, born in Caracas in 1970, who was caught in the collapse of a building in La Guaira. This area, just 30 kilometers from Caracas, is among the most severely affected. Reports describe urban centers resembling war zones, with numerous buildings reduced to rubble or severely damaged. Fires caused by gas leaks are being extinguished, while survivors search for relatives amidst the debris, many in shock and having lost everything.

"Everything was falling on us. The televisions were on the floor. It seemed like a horror movie. It lasted a very long time, about two minutes," recounted a resident from a western Caracas area. Another neighbor added, "The roar was terrifying."

Rescue and aid delivery face significant challenges due to damaged bridges, a closed airport, and collapsed communication lines. Despite these obstacles, rescue operations are ongoing. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency, closing schools and courts, and appealed for national unity. All medical personnel have been mobilized.

International solidarity has mobilized quickly, with aid arriving from neighboring countries and rescue teams from around the world, including the United States and the European Union. The EU activated its Civil Protection Mechanism, and the IMF has allocated $200 million for reconstruction. Turkey and Mexico, nations familiar with similar disasters, have also sent personnel to aid in the race against time to save those trapped under the rubble. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has pledged full support to the Venezuelan government, with the Italian Fire Brigade and Civil Protection preparing to deploy.

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Tutto ci stava cadendo addosso. I televisori erano a terra. Sembrava un film horror. E' durato tantissimo, circa due minuti