Tens of thousands continue search for survivors after Venezuela earthquakes
More than 3,000 foreign rescue workers have joined the herculean task of searching for survivors, while the official death toll has now surpassed 2,000.
Rescue workers carry Hernán Alberto Gil Flores Gil after he was pulled from the rubble eight days after he was trapped by twin earthquakes that struck Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Thursday, July 2, 2026. Photo: AP
The arduous struggle to find survivors continues following the disastrous double earthquake that struck La Guaira and Caracas, Venezuela, on June 24. The first quake measured 7.2 on the Richter scale, while the second, the most devastating, reached 7.5.
The death toll rises every day as reports of fatalities continue to come in. Morgues and hospitals are overflowing. According to the Venezuelan government, 2,295 deaths have been recorded so far, a figure that will surely continue to rise.
In light of the devastating reality facing the South American country, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez decided to declare seven days of national mourning, which began on July 1. So far, more than 11,000 injured people have been treated in Caracas hospitals, which are in precarious conditions, due in part to economic sanctions imposed by Washington that hinder the purchase of medical and rescue supplies.
Despite the devastation and the collapse of hundreds of buildings, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez reported that more than 6,400 people have been rescued from the rubble thanks to the efforts of Venezuelan rescue teams, the armed forces, and civilians who continue to search desperately for their neighbors and loved ones.
In addition, the Venezuelan government reported that there are nearly 16,000 people affected by the disaster, which means that all of these people who have lost everything will need assistance.
More than 3,000 foreign rescue workers have joined this massive effort, arriving in Venezuela to assist with the rescue operations; they are members of 53 rescue teams specializing in search and rescue. “This is a very strong international response to Venezuela’s request for assistance,” said Sebastián Mocarquer of Chile, a member of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team.
The foreign rescue teams come from 30 countries, including Cuba, El Salvador, Vietnam, Colombia, Qatar, the United States, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Paraguay, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, among others. In addition, rescue teams have arrived with food, medical supplies, rescue equipment, etc., all of which are sorely needed given Venezuela’s difficult economic situation.
According to reports, rescue teams typically have a window of 5 to 10 days to find survivors, so time is running out and rescuers are working against the clock. Added to this are the high temperatures recorded in La Guaira – around 34 degrees with 80% humidity – which are hampering rescue operations and making it difficult for survivors to stay alive.
The UN, through the UNHCR, has opened a donation channel to send aid to Venezuela.
Also, civic groups in various countries have organized drives to collect clothing, non-perishable food, medical supplies, medicines, and other necessary items to send aid to Venezuelans facing a natural, economic, and humanitarian disaster whose full extent remains unknown.
