By EchoAsiaNews Desk
Venezuela is facing one of its worst natural disasters in decades after two powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck the country’s northern region, collapsing buildings, damaging hospitals and leaving families searching desperately through rubble for missing loved ones.
Officials say at least 235 people have died and more than 4,300 have been injured, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue teams continue to reach damaged neighborhoods and coastal communities. The earthquakes, measured at magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, struck less than a minute apart west of Caracas, according to seismic data cited by international agencies.
The hardest-hit areas include La Guaira, near the capital’s main airport, where apartment buildings, public facilities and critical infrastructure suffered severe damage. Rescue workers, volunteers and local residents have been digging through debris, often with limited equipment, as families wait for news of those still trapped beneath collapsed structures.
Reports also indicate that thousands remain missing or unaccounted for, though the exact number remains difficult to verify because of damaged communications and the chaos of ongoing rescue operations. Reuters reported that a crowd-sourced tracking website listed more than 46,000 people as unaccounted for, while other reports carried different figures, making official confirmation essential.
Venezuela’s acting leadership has declared a state of emergency and appealed for urgent assistance. Several governments have offered help, including rescue personnel, medical supplies, search dogs, water purification systems and emergency equipment. The United States also moved to ease some sanctions temporarily to allow earthquake relief transactions.
For survivors, the immediate priorities remain search and rescue, emergency medical care, shelter, clean water and restoration of power and communications. With aftershocks continuing and many damaged buildings still unsafe, authorities have urged residents to remain cautious and avoid unstable structures.
As night falls over the disaster zone, Venezuela’s tragedy has become a race against time: every hour matters for those still trapped beneath the rubble.