Three days after twin earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 devastated Venezuela, the death toll has climbed to at least 920, with more than 51,000 people reported missing, authorities announced Saturday. The government blocked access to the epicenter in La Guaira as chaos and traffic hindered search operations, while families dug through rubble hoping to find loved ones alive.
Authorities Restrict Access Amid Chaos
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced Friday night that access to La Guaira would be restricted, requiring official permits for entry. She provided few details on who would be allowed in. More than 14,000 military and police personnel are patrolling the area, Rodríguez said on state television Saturday, emphasizing the government's response during these “critical hours for rescuing people alive.”
Despite the official presence, residents reported a scarcity of state rescue teams in the hardest-hit areas. Many Venezuelans took search efforts into their own hands, using hammers and power tools to cut through concrete slabs. “Each person saved is a miracle,” said Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly. “We are not going to hide absolutely anything about the magnitude of this tragedy.”
Desperate Scenes in La Guaira
In La Guaira, north of Caracas, Nazareth Jiménez sobbed as neighbors tried to extract survivors from a collapsed building. “My God, how are we going to get them out of there?” she murmured. “We’re making a call for help to the government and countries across the world. There are still people alive in there.”
The number of injured surpassed 3,300 as of midday Friday, and authorities reported rescuing 243 people. Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours crucial for retrieving survivors, though access to food and water can extend that window. The International Organization for Migration estimates up to 6.76 million people could be affected, including 2 million in Caracas alone.
International Aid Arrives
Venezuelan authorities said 861 volunteers from Mexico, the U.S., El Salvador, Switzerland, Colombia, and other countries were already in the country, with more en route. Acting President Rodríguez said she spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, who reaffirmed commitment to send rescue teams and aid equipment.
In Maiquetia, people lined up outside stores and pharmacies that served customers one by one behind closed doors. At one point, a woman threw herself to the ground to protect a package of diapers. In Catia La Mar, some carried off basic goods from stores, while others swarmed a pickup truck distributing bread and water until a soldier intervened. The parking lot of a pharmacy became a makeshift shelter with tarps, hammocks, and tents.
Survivors Sleep on Streets
Many residents continued to sleep on the street, terrified to reenter damaged homes. Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross’ regional director for the Americas, said “people are still terrified to reenter what were their homes.” Omar Reyes, who lost around 20 family members, walked through rubble where two of his children were buried. “I’ve been left alone in this life,” he said.
Yuleidy Cadenas, 28, stood across from a collapsed public housing building, hoping her son, mother, and brother would be pulled out alive. She fled barefoot from another building as it collapsed Wednesday and found her mother’s 12-floor apartment tower had pancaked. “I got on top of the rubble and told them to yell back, and nobody did, not my brother, nor my son or my mother,” Cadenas said.
French officers from the 7th Civil Security Training and Response Regiment prepared shipments at Marseille Provence Airport to fly to Venezuela. The disaster poses a significant challenge for Acting President Rodríguez, who took office in January after the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by the United States. Venezuela has faced economic disarray for over a decade, and many reject the legitimacy of her political movement.
