Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Climbs to 235 as Thousands Remain Missing

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.

La Guaira suffered some of the worst destruction, with widespread building collapses and severe damage to infrastructure, including the closure of the country's main international airport. The area has been officially designated a disaster zone. Rodríguez also appealed to private companies to provide heavy construction equipment to accelerate rescue efforts. “We hope to rescue as many living people as possible,” she said, urging additional machinery to help clear the debris.

Across Caracas and other northern cities, residents continued digging through rubble alongside emergency crews, often before heavy equipment reached affected neighborhoods. Television footage showed dramatic rescues, including a woman pulled alive from beneath a concrete slab after only her bare foot was visible. Children and even pets were among those rescued from collapsed structures, while survivors emerged covered in dust and blood.

Many residents expressed frustration over the pace of the official response. In Caracas, Dayana Delgado, whose eight-year-old son remains missing, questioned the absence of the heavy machinery authorities had promised. “I want to know where my child is, if he's trapped or in a shelter,” she said, explaining that neighbors rather than government crews had been searching through the wreckage.

The disaster has also affected foreign nationals. Officials confirmed that at least six foreigners were among the victims, including two Brazilian citizens, two Chinese nationals, one Portuguese citizen, and one dual Italian-Venezan national who died when a building collapsed in La Guaira.

The United States has expanded its response by temporarily waiving certain sanctions through October 23 to facilitate earthquake-related humanitarian transactions that would otherwise be prohibited. Washington also announced a large-scale military-supported relief operation involving the amphibious transport ship USS Fort Lauderdale, the littoral combat ship USS Billings, C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, as well as helicopters. U.S. Southern Command said the deployment would support search-and-rescue operations, damage assessments, and the delivery of critical humanitarian assistance. The United States has also pledged $150 million in aid.

International assistance has continued to grow. Spain and France are sending specialized rescue personnel, Germany has offered six military transport aircraft, Switzerland is dispatching 80 rescuers, eight search dogs and 18 tons of equipment, while the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Brazil, Mexico, El Salvador, and other countries have announced rescue teams, medical personnel, field hospitals, equipment, and humanitarian supplies. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has released $2.5 million for emergency operations, while Pope Leo XIV approved an initial emergency contribution of 100,000 euros.

The earthquakes have further complicated an already difficult situation for Venezuela, which has struggled with years of economic instability. Acting President Rodríguez, who assumed office after the capture of Nicolas Maduro earlier this year, now faces one of the country's worst natural disasters in decades. Authorities have redirected rescue teams from across Venezuela toward La Guaira, a region that also suffered the country's devastating 1999 mudslides.

Meanwhile, communication problems continue to hamper rescue efforts. Interrupted cellphone service has left many Venezuelans abroad unable to reach relatives, while opposition-supported missing persons registries have listed more than 46,000 people as unaccounted for. The U.S. Geological Survey's predictive models indicate the death toll could eventually rise into the thousands if large numbers of those still missing remain trapped beneath the rubble.