At least 188 people have died and 1,520 remain injured after two massive earthquakes struck Venezuela's northern coast late Wednesday afternoon. US Geological Survey initially estimated that death toll from 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes could reach anywhere from 10,000 to 1,00,000.
The 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude quakes which struck less than 40 seconds apart, are the strongest to hit the country since 1900. The coastal region of La Guaira, located near the Simón Bolívar International Airport and the capital Caracas sustained the most severe damage. Rodríguez has officially declared La Guaira a "disaster zone."
Dozens of buildings in the coastal cities of La Guaira, Catia La Mar and Caraballeda have been completely flattened large residential blocks like the Ritasol Palace and the seafront Eduard’s Hotel. In Caracas several buildings collapsed in the Altamira and Los Palos Grandes neighborhoods. The tremors were so powerful they were felt more than 1,000 miles away in Manaus, Brazil.
With thousands feared trapped beneath the rubble officials stress that the next 72 hours are critical. Rescue teams are racing to dig through the debris in a desperate hunt for survivors.
International Aid Mobilizes
The international community has rapidly deployed assistance to the reeling nation:
United States: Authorities are coordinating with the defense department to send search-and-rescue teams to navigate the collapsed structures.
France: President Emmanuel Macron announced the immediate deployment of 85 specialized rescue workers.
United Nations: The UN’s humanitarian agency (OCHA) is surging personnel and solidarity support directly to the hardest-hit areas.
Brazil: President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed profound dismay and solidarity with the resilient Venezuelan people.
Acting President Rodríguez expressed deep gratitude for the global outpouring of support stating, "Venezuela will never forget the helping hand extended to our people during these difficult times."
Compounding a Humanitarian Crisis
The seismic disaster strikes a nation already grappling with profound economic and political instability. According to Oxfam an estimated 7.9 million Venezuelans were in need of humanitarian assistance prior to Wednesday.
Magnus Corfixen, Oxfam’s humanitarian lead noted that the charity's local partners have begun initial damage assessments. "This event compounds an already severe humanitarian crisis," Corfixen said, affirming the organization's commitment to prioritizing community-centered relief for the most affected populations.
