Venezuela quake death toll nears 1,500 as search continues for tens of thousands missing

CARACAS: Rescue teams in Venezuela are locked in a heartbreaking race against time as they frantically dig through rubble following twin catastrophic earthquakes. The death toll has neared 1,450, with tens of thousands of people still missing under collapsed buildings.

International rescue operations have intensified in the hardest-hit coastal state of La Guaira, located roughly 40 kilometers north of the capital, Caracas.

The disaster struck at a time when the nation was already gripped by severe political and economic instability.

Acting President Jorge Rodriguez confirmed that 3,150 people remain injured, over 12,721 have been displaced from their homes, and at least 774 buildings have completely crumbled.

Experts warn that the critical 72-hour window for finding survivors has passed, making ongoing operations a miraculous race against the odds.

Sebastian Eugster, leader of an 80-strong Swiss rescue team, noted that while search dogs have located individuals trapped beneath the debris, the probability of pulling people out alive decreases rapidly with each passing hour.

Despite the grim outlook, emotional scenes of survival have injected hope into the grueling rescue efforts.

A Colombian rescue unit successfully pulled an 11-year-old boy named Moises from three meters deep inside the debris using advanced scanning technology. While Moises survived with a broken arm, the disaster claimed the lives of his mother and sister.

In a separate operation, Mexican rescuers saved another 11-year-old boy in the town of Caraballeda, while US crews shared footage of a wailing infant being successfully extracted from the ruins.

On Sunday, a father and son were also pulled out alive from a collapsed building.

Interim President Rodriguez announced the formation of a presidential commission to assess structural damage across the region.

Educational institutions will remain closed for an additional week, while electricity has been restored to roughly 75 per cent of La Guaira.

However, political friction continues to shadow the humanitarian crisis. The current administration —established following the US-backed removal of the previous president earlier this year — tightened access to key disaster zones, citing the need to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles.

Meanwhile, prominent opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado announced plans to return to Venezuela from exile, a move that has reportedly sparked frustration among officials in Washington who view it as premature given the ongoing disaster.

Compounding the crisis, Venezuela’s largest oil refinery, Amuay, has suspended operations following major power grid failures in western Falcon state.

More than 2,600 international rescue workers are currently on the ground assisting local volunteers. From the Vatican, Pope Leo expressed deep solidarity with the Venezuelan people during his Sunday Angelus prayer, offering blessings to the victims and thanking the first responders.

On the economic front, the US administration is expected to announce a massive financial aid package worth hundreds of millions of dollars, adding to an initial commitment of $150 million to fuel long-term rehabilitation efforts.