DistantNews
Support us
🇻🇪 Venezuela /Disasters & Emergencies

Venezuela earthquake: Rescue efforts continue as death toll nears 2,000

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Rescue efforts continue in Venezuela six days after a double earthquake, with international teams searching for survivors.
  • The quakes have killed 1,943 people and injured 10,571, causing widespread building collapse, particularly in La Guaira state.
  • A three-year-old child was rescued after nearly six days trapped in rubble, offering a glimmer of hope amid the ongoing tragedy.

Six days after a devastating double earthquake struck Venezuela, the race against time continues for rescuers searching for survivors. International teams, including Spanish military engineers and search dogs, are meticulously combing through the rubble, particularly in the hardest-hit La Guaira state. The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes have claimed 1,943 lives and left 10,571 injured, with the collapse of numerous buildings exacerbating the tragedy.

Despite the diminishing odds of finding survivors after 72 hours, hope persists. "Hope is never lost. We know that after 72 hours the probabilities of finding people alive decrease, but people are still being found, we have to continue," said Spanish military officer Alberto Vázquez, part of the Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME). His team has already rescued two people alive since arriving, emphasizing the critical need for silence during rescue operations to detect any faint sounds from trapped victims.

Hope is never lost. We know that after 72 hours the probabilities of finding people alive decrease, but people are still being found, we have to continue.

— Alberto VázquezA Spanish military officer expresses the determination of rescue teams despite the odds.

A significant moment of hope emerged Tuesday when a three-year-old child was rescued in Los Corales, La Guaira, after being trapped for nearly six days. The Jordanian rescue mission successfully extracted the child from a collapsed building, a feat achieved after more than 24 hours of delicate work. This rescue offers a poignant reminder of resilience amidst widespread devastation.

Satellite imagery from NASA suggests the earthquakes may have damaged or destroyed approximately 58,870 buildings across the affected region. Over 3,300 rescuers from 27 countries, coordinated by the UN, are on the ground, working tirelessly to find survivors and aid in the recovery efforts. The scale of destruction and the ongoing search highlight the immense challenge Venezuela faces in the aftermath of this natural disaster.

It is very important. Any movement the trapped victim makes, scratching a little, pushing the wall with a fist... we will hear it.

— Alberto VázquezA Spanish military officer explains the critical importance of silence during rescue operations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog