Death Toll Rises as Venezuelans Join Search Efforts After Devastating Earthquakes

Residents across northern Venezuela took rescue efforts into their own hands on Friday as hopes of finding survivors faded nearly two days after twin powerful earthquakes struck the country, leaving at least 920 people dead, more than 3,300 injured and over 51,000 reported missing.

The back-to-back earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit late Wednesday, causing widespread destruction in and around the capital, Caracas, and severely damaging coastal communities, particularly La Guaira. As the critical rescue window continued to narrow, many families said they had received little assistance from government rescue teams and were forced to search collapsed buildings using basic tools.

Authorities acknowledged the scale of the disaster and announced new measures to manage rescue operations. Access to La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas, was restricted on Friday night, with officials saying visitors would now require government permits to enter as heavy traffic and crowds were disrupting emergency work.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez described every successful rescue as “a miracle” and pledged transparency about the scale of the tragedy. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the government had deployed firefighters, police, civil defense personnel and military units while welcoming international rescue teams and humanitarian assistance arriving from around the world.

Scenes of desperation unfolded across the disaster zone as anxious families searched for missing relatives. In La Guaira, Nazareth Jimenez watched neighbors use hammers and power tools to cut through concrete slabs where several members of her family remained trapped. She appealed for heavy machinery and additional international assistance, saying she believed survivors were still buried beneath the rubble.

Authorities said 243 people had been rescued by Friday afternoon, though officials warned the death toll was expected to rise as search operations continued. Independent online databases registered tens of thousands of missing person reports, although authorities noted some entries could be duplicates or involve people who remain out of contact because telecommunications networks have been disrupted.

The disaster has affected millions across Venezuela. The International Organization for Migration estimated that as many as 6.76 million people may have been impacted, including roughly 2 million residents in Caracas. Experts said the shallow depth and close timing of the two earthquakes significantly increased the level of destruction.

Daily life has also been severely disrupted. Long queues formed outside shops and pharmacies, while temporary shelters appeared in parking lots and open spaces. In some communities, shortages of food and essential supplies led to isolated incidents of looting, prompting security forces to intervene.

International support continued to grow throughout Friday. Venezuelan officials said 861 foreign emergency personnel from countries including the United States, Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador and Switzerland were already assisting rescue efforts, while the United Nations announced that additional search-and-rescue teams were on their way.

Acting President Rodríguez also confirmed she had spoken with US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to providing rescue teams and emergency equipment. Convoys carrying heavy machinery, relief supplies and emergency personnel continued moving toward the worst-affected areas as authorities raced against time to locate survivors beneath the rubble.