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Venezuela earthquakes kill 1,400 as hope fades for survivors
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Disasters & Emergencies

Venezuela earthquakes kill 1,400 as hope fades for survivors

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Over 1,400 people have died in Venezuela following powerful earthquakes, with rescue efforts dwindling as the 72-hour survival window closes.
  • Tens of thousands are missing, and millions are feared to lack basic necessities amid an ongoing economic crisis and political upheaval.
  • An infant was rescued alive, offering a glimmer of hope, while international aid begins to arrive.

Rescue crews in Venezuela are racing against time to find survivors in the rubble of devastating earthquakes that have claimed at least 1,430 lives. Hope is fading more than three days after the powerful tremors struck, with tens of thousands reported missing. The disaster compounds the suffering of a nation already grappling with a severe economic crisis and political instability following the capture of authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro by US special forces in January.

At this point, they are probably dead bodies. Thanks to God maybe we can find people still alive.

— Salvadoran rescue workerDescribing the grim reality of the search for survivors after the initial critical window.

Experts emphasize that the first 72 hours are critical for finding survivors, after which the focus shifts to recovering bodies. A Salvadoran rescue worker expressed the grim reality: "At this point, they are probably dead bodies. Thanks to God maybe we can find people still alive." Despite the dire situation, an 11-year-old boy was rescued from the rubble in Caraballeda late Saturday, an event interim leader Delcy Rodriguez hailed as a "source of hope."

International aid is beginning to arrive, with the United States confirming partial functionality of a runway at Simon Bolivar International Airport for C-17 military planes and a naval ship reaching the coast. However, the response has faced public criticism, with residents desperately trying to clear debris from collapsed buildings. Australian firefighter Craig Demeillon described the scene in La Guaira as "chaotic, hot and unorganized."

Every life is a source of hope for Venezuela.

— Delcy RodriguezInterim leader's reaction to the rescue of an 11-year-old boy.

The UN aid chief warned that the death toll could continue to rise significantly, estimating over 50,000 missing. The UN migration agency projects that up to 6.76 million people may require emergency assistance, including shelter, water, sanitation, and healthcare. National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez reported 1,430 dead and 3,238 injured, while the UN estimated physical damage at $6.7 billion, equivalent to six percent of Venezuela's GDP. The ongoing crisis has left Venezuelans, already struggling with economic hardship and political turmoil, furious at the government's response.

It’s just very chaotic, hot and unorganized.

— Craig DemeillonAn Australian firefighter describing the scene at the earthquake disaster site.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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