The death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has climbed to at least 235 as rescue teams continue searching through collapsed buildings for survivors. Authorities say thousands remain missing, raising fears that the number of victims could increase significantly in the coming days.
Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said approximately 235 people had died after arriving at hospitals without vital signs or succumbing to their injuries shortly after admission. More than 4,300 people have been injured, although earlier official updates put the figure above 1,500 as authorities continued verifying casualties. The powerful magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck within seconds of each other on Wednesday evening, making them among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century. The tremors were felt across neighboring countries, with evacuations reported as far away as Brazil's Amazon region.
Search and rescue operations remain focused on northern Venezuela, particularly the heavily damaged coastal state of La Guaira, where authorities have described the situation as catastrophic. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez visited the disaster zone alongside Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and National Assembly Speaker Jorge Rodríguez, saying the priority remains finding survivors. “We hope to rescue as many people as possible while they are still alive,” she said, confirming that international rescue teams had begun arriving, with the first specialists from the Dominican Republic landing shortly after her appeal.
