The death toll from the devastating earthquakes that rocked northern Venezuela has climbed to about 235 people, with at least 4,300 others injured and more than 70,000 families displaced in one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in recent years.
Authorities said the powerful 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck within seconds of each other, causing widespread destruction across Caracas and several northern coastal states, flattening buildings, damaging hospitals and leaving thousands homeless.
Venezuela’s Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, disclosed that more than 70,000 families were affected in the severely devastated coastal state of La Guaira, where over 100 buildings reportedly collapsed during the disaster.
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Emergency officials said rescue workers continued frantic operations across affected areas in search of survivors trapped beneath rubble as fears grew that the casualty figures could rise further.
Hospitals in several regions were reportedly overwhelmed with injured victims as medical personnel struggled to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis.
The earthquakes caused extensive destruction in Caracas, La Guaira, Miranda, Aragua and Carabobo states, damaging residential buildings, schools, roads, bridges and critical infrastructure.
Authorities described La Guaira as one of the worst-hit areas, with thousands displaced and emergency shelters established for affected residents.
Rescue operations have also been hampered by persistent aftershocks, electricity outages, damaged roads and communication disruptions in several parts of the country.
Seismologists described the disaster as a rare “earthquake doublet” because the two powerful tremors struck only 39 seconds apart, dramatically increasing the level of destruction.
Meanwhile, international humanitarian assistance continues pouring into Venezuela as several countries mobilize rescue teams and emergency support.
Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States are among countries sending search-and-rescue personnel, medical teams and relief supplies alongside the United Nations to support ongoing emergency operations.
Amid the worsening humanitarian situation, the US-based Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) has urged the United States and other countries to temporarily lift sanctions on Venezuela to allow faster humanitarian response and reconstruction efforts.
The organization warned that sanctions could complicate the movement of emergency funds, medical supplies and humanitarian assistance urgently needed for victims.
International aid agencies said tens of thousands of displaced residents are now in urgent need of food, shelter, clean water and medical care as authorities continue assessing the full scale of the destruction.