Venezuela Quake Death Toll Climbs Past 1,400 as Rescue Window Narrows Fast

International rescue teams race against time as thousands remain missing after twin earthquakes
An infant rescued from beneath the rubble following the earthquake in Venezuela.
An infant rescued from beneath the rubble following the earthquake in Venezuela.[Screengrab via @StateDept / X]
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Thirty-three people have been rescued alive from the rubble in Venezuela following the twin earthquakes that struck the country's northern coast on Wednesday, but officials and international rescue teams warned that the critical window for finding additional survivors is rapidly closing.

The death toll has risen above 1,400, while more than 3,000 people have been injured and a similar number are living in temporary shelters.

Coastal La Guaira remains the hardest-hit region, where apartment buildings, hotels and public housing complexes collapsed and hundreds of aftershocks have continued to hamper rescue operations.

Although the government has reported hundreds missing or trapped, an opposition-backed website listed just under 50,000 people as unaccounted for on Sunday, down from 55,000 a day earlier.

Rescue Efforts

More than 1,600 foreign rescue workers have joined search operations across the disaster zone as local volunteers continue clearing debris alongside emergency crews.

Among those rescued were an infant pulled from the rubble by U.S. rescuers, an 11-year-old boy located by a Colombian team using a scanner, and another 11-year-old boy rescued by Mexican crews in Caraballeda.

Swiss rescue team leader Sebastian Eugster said the probability of finding survivors declines significantly after roughly 72 hours beneath collapsed structures, a milestone reached on Saturday evening.

His team will work with local authorities and other international responders to determine when search-and-rescue operations will conclude before shifting to broader humanitarian assistance.

Government restrictions have also tightened access to roads leading into La Guaira, with authorities limiting entry to accredited personnel to prioritize emergency vehicles.

Aid Expands

International assistance continued to grow as governments and humanitarian organizations increased support for relief operations.

The European Union announced 5 million euros in emergency assistance while deploying its Copernicus satellite system to help map damage and guide aid deliveries.

A senior U.S. official said additional funding worth hundreds of millions of dollars is expected to be announced, supplementing the $150 million already committed.

Pope Leo expressed solidarity with those affected and thanked rescue workers during the Angelus prayer in Rome.

Starlink also announced free mobile connectivity for customers in the La Guaira region to help restore communications disrupted by the disaster.

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