Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Nears 3,000

The death toll from Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes has climbed to at least 2,954, with more than 16,500 people injured and thousands remaining unaccounted for. The disaster, which struck on June 24 with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, hit the coastal La Guaira area hardest. Authorities have recorded 942 aftershocks.

“

We're still working, still searching for bodies. We're still going. It hasn't been easy.

International rescuers are winding down their efforts as the critical 72-hour window for finding survivors has passed. While a few individuals were found alive this week, the United Nations estimates up to 50,000 people are missing. Rescue teams from the US and South America, including those from Florida and Virginia, are preparing to return home. The Los Angeles County fire department rescue team is also ending its mission after finding no signs of life.

“

We found two bodies that have already been released to their families.

Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez has rejected allegations of a slow government response. Some citizens expressed frustration, stating that families had to dig out relatives themselves in the crucial initial hours. Civilians and international aid organizations reported delays in essential supplies like food and medicine, along with a shortage of heavy machinery to clear debris. Rodriguez defended the government's actions, highlighting the deployment of thousands of troops and officials. Workers with heavy machinery have begun demolishing damaged structures in La Guaira. A Venezuelan volunteer shared the ongoing efforts to search for bodies, stating, "We found two bodies that have already been released to their families."

“

We're experiencing "a profound grief gripping our people, where families still hold out hope of finding loved ones alive, people who have lost everything."