A major search and rescue operation is underway to find survivors in Venezuela after a devastating double earthquake. At least 188 have lost their lives, thousands remain missing and 250 buildings have been lost or damaged, President of the National Asembly Jorge Rodríguez has said. Collapse all postsFri 26 Jun 2026 at 6:48amFri 26 Jun 2026 at 6:48amRescue teams head to heavily damaged coastal regionVenezuelan authorities say they are diverting rescue teams from other parts of the country to La Guaira, which is no stranger to natural disasters. A 1999 mudslide there, considered one of the country's worst natural disasters, killed thousands.Acting President Decly Rodríguez has appealed to businesses to make heavy construction equipment available for rescue operations, and a United Nations spokesperson says search and rescue teams are just hours away."We are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives," said Rodríguez, who referred to La Guaira as a "disaster zone."Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 6:46amFri 26 Jun 2026 at 6:46amRubio outlines US's initial responseBy Brad Ryan in Washington DCMarco Rubio spoke to the media in Bahrain. (Eric Lee/Pool via Reuters)Search and rescue teams have been deployed to Venezuela from the Washington DC and Los Angeles regions, the US says.The US Department of Defense is also sending assets to Caracas's "badly damaged" airport, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said."We're also helping them with some overhead imagery, especially in coastal areas, where they don't have full visibility over what the damage has been and what the impact has been," he said."The most immediate need, the one they need right now, is search and rescue. That's the one they need immediately, because you've got to get people out of that rubble within 48 hours or they won't survive."The requirements for the next phase of the response will become clearer in the next couple of days, Rubio said."We'll have a better assessment of that after the next 48 hours, when we’re on the ground and as the Venezuelan authorities get more visibility as to the level of damage in terms of housing, where do you put all these people that don't have anywhere to go live, what we can do to help them restore their communications, their internet, their telecom and so forth."Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 6:42amFri 26 Jun 2026 at 6:42amSatellite images show La Guaira before and after the earthquakesBy Georgie Hewson(Reuters: Vantor )Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 6:41amFri 26 Jun 2026 at 6:41amLocals in La Guaira dig through rubble in search of loved onesBy Georgie HewsonNearly 24 hours after devastating twin earthquakes in Venezuela, people in the coastal city of La Guaira are still using their hands to dig through rubble, trying to rescue their neighbours.(Reuters: Maxwell Briceno)Locals have expressed frustration at lack of machinery available to help their efforts.US Geological Survey models suggest the number of deaths from the earthquakes could exceed 10,000.La Guaira is a popular spot for beachgoers and is the worst-hit city in the country.(Reuters: Gaby Oraa )Some rubble caught fire overnight despite domestic gas services being cut.Terrified residents, many with nowhere else to go, huddled in the streets or peered into destroyed buildings, looking for survivors.Reporting with ReutersFri 26 Jun 2026 at 6:33amFri 26 Jun 2026 at 6:33amDelcy Rodriguez visiting La Guaira 'disaster zone'By Georgie HewsonVenezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has visited the coastal area worst hit by the twin earthquakes, according to the head of the country's legislature."She is currently in La Guaira state, attending to the tremendous disaster zone," her brother, National Assembly leader Jorge Rodriguez, said in a televised address.No images of the visit have emerged yet.Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 6:24amFri 26 Jun 2026 at 6:24amGood morningBy Georgie HewsonA "massive" UN-coordinated recovery effort is underway to find survivors of two earthquakes that hit Venezuela yesterday, with countries from around the world deploying search-and-rescue teams.Jorge Rodriguez, who heads Venezuela's national assembly, said at least 188 people had died, 1,520 people had been injured, and at least 250 buildings had been damaged or destroyed.The death toll is predicted to climb.Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates.