Search efforts continued yesterday, Thursday, at a frantic pace amid the rubble of buildings that collapsed in Venezuela as part of rescue operations to free those trapped, the day after the double, extremely powerful earthquake that left at least 235 dead, according to the most recent official tally.
“Unfortunately, we received 235 patients who were brought in showing no signs of life or who died upon arrival at our healthcare facilities,” said Health Minister Carlos Alvarado on public television. However, he did not specify the number of injured. Authorities had earlier reported at least 1,520 people.
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Buildings were flattened, and mountains of rubble lay where distraught families were trying to find people who had been buried alive. Near the epicenter of the earthquake, teams from the French News Agency witnessed horrific scenes of destruction, raising concerns that the death toll will continue to rise.
The area hardest hit is the state of La Guaira, north of the capital Caracas, home to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maquetía—which was closed due to the damage it sustained—and the coastal city of Catia la Mar, where many buildings collapsed.
“There’s a spot where a young woman, Jennifer, who lived on the 11th floor, answered me. ‘But we don’t have any tools, no way to help her’ get out of the rubble,” she explained.
Lisbeth Vasquez, 37, told Agence France-Presse that her family members managed to save themselves by jumping out of the windows of their family apartment at the last moment as the building “was completely collapsing.” “It was terrifying,” she said. “Neighbors on lower floors were buried; we’re trying to dig them out.”
“We have nothing left. Nothing, not even the strength or courage to go in there,” sighed Larry Rojas, 49, standing before the pile of rubble where his relatives are buried.
“We need people to come and help. A little girl has been trapped here since last night; we can get her out, but we need an excavator,” shouted Danny Riso, another 48-year-old resident of the same building, in desperation.
International aid is beginning to be organized. The U.S. has promised “substantial,” “rapid,” and “effective” aid, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The State Department announced that it is sending rescue teams and allocating $150 million to provide aid through U.S. “partners.” The U.S. military announced that it is deploying warships, aircraft, and helicopters to support search and rescue operations.
Brazil, two of whose citizens lost their lives in the earthquake, according to Brasília, also announced that it is sending aid to its neighboring country. Like China, India, countries in Europe and Latin America, and even Iran—a traditional ally of Venezuela— despite having suffered the same immense devastation due to the war waged against it by the U.S. and Israel on February 28.
State of Emergency and Widespread Devastation
Acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, declared a state of emergency a few hours after the twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck on Wednesday at 6:04 p.m. (local time).
According to data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the 7.5-magnitude earthquake was the strongest to hit the country since at least 1900.
Unimaginable destruction and devastation from the earthquake in Venezuela. Most of the high-rise buildings will have to be condemned. Some citizens may have to relocate to another part of Venezuela or to another country. We all need to step up and help Venezuela.
pic.twitter.com/zqiQQBqj2R
— Bonita Jamaica (@BonitaJamaica) June 25, 2026
The country, with a population of nearly 30 million, has been mired in an economic crisis for years.
According to USGS data, the first seismic tremor—a 7.2-magnitude “foreshock,” as it was characterized—was recorded at 6:04 p.m. (local time) at a depth of 21.9 kilometers, about 200 kilometers west of Caracas. The second, measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale, with a shallow focal depth of 10 kilometers, followed 39 seconds later, 45 kilometers from there.
In the capital, where many buildings collapsed, the streets were littered with shards of broken glass, and many people spent the night outdoors, some in their cars if they had them, as the ground continued to shake from aftershocks.
At the same time, there were reports of some looting. In Katia la Mar, men and women were seen leaving a partially burned-out store carrying food, Agence France-Presse reporters observed.
Power outages were reported by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, who also announced that he had ordered the natural gas supply to be cut off in order to “avoid any accidents.”
OH MY GOD!
Several people affected by the earthquake remain trapped in the rubble as they await the arrival of rescue teams.
Amid the chaos and destruction, survivors are desperately calling for help as search efforts continue… pic.twitter.com/1ilJgn7sg4
— Cristian Crespo F.
(@cristiancrespoj) June 25, 2026
Yesterday morning, almost no stores were open, while traffic was heavy, as many residents sought to find safe locations away from buildings that were dangerous.
“It’s shaking right now,” they shouted during an aftershock as they gathered around a building that had already collapsed.
— Alerta Mundial (@AlertaMundoNews) June 25, 2026
Even before the devastating earthquakes, “nearly eight million people were in need of humanitarian aid” in Venezuela, remarked Tom Fletcher, the UN Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.
As the international airport in Maiquetía has been closed due to “serious damage to its infrastructure,” as announced by Acting President Rodríguez, Caracas will rely on La Carlota military airport, in the metropolitan area, for the delivery of international aid.
SEE ALSO: Apocalyptic Scenes in Venezuela After Double Earthquake: 30,000 Missing, Over 180 Dead (LIVE VIDEO) | AlphaNews
Source: KYPE
