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Rescuers continue to pull survivors from the rubble of collapsed buildings as the death toll from the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela has climbed to 1,450. Nearly one-fifth of the country’s population has been affected by the disaster, while relief efforts have become entangled in a growing political dispute, according to The New York Times.
The United Nations estimates that around 6.8 million people have been directly impacted. Although the critical 72-hour rescue window has passed, local and international emergency teams are still searching through the debris, with survivors continuing to be found.
The coastal state of La Guaira remains the hardest-hit area, where more than 770 buildings have been partially or completely destroyed. French and American rescue teams recently pulled a father and his son alive from beneath the ruins after they spent four days trapped. The operation lasted more than 12 hours and relied on specialized search cameras. According to Reuters, both survivors were severely dehydrated and weakened and are receiving medical treatment.
A day earlier, a rescue team from the U.S. state of Virginia saved a mother and her nine-month-old baby from another collapsed building. More than 3,100 injured people have now been hospitalized, many suffering severe crush injuries. Over 2,600 rescue specialists from multiple countries are currently assisting local authorities.
The situation remains unstable as aftershocks measuring up to magnitude 4.5 continue to shake the region. Communication problems have forced many families to search for missing relatives on their own through online databases, where reports of missing persons have already surpassed 50,000. Thousands of residents continue sleeping in cars or outdoors, fearing additional collapses.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced the creation of a special commission to inspect damaged buildings and determine when residents can safely return home. Meanwhile, authorities have sealed off La Guaira with around 14,000 military personnel and police officers, allowing access only to those holding special permits.
The International Organization for Migration warns that widespread destruction, combined with disrupted water and sanitation systems, could trigger another wave of migration from Venezuela. The country has already lost around eight million people to emigration over the past decade due to its prolonged economic crisis.
The disaster has also sparked political tensions. Volunteers from the opposition party Vente Venezuela, led by Nobel Prize laureate María Corina Machado, quickly organized humanitarian aid collection points. However, police and civil protection officials reportedly attempted to shut down several volunteer centers, insisting that only the government is authorized to collect donations and even banning the use of the phrase "donation center."
Opposition leaders accuse the government of trying to monopolize humanitarian assistance for political gain. Analysts say Rodríguez, who assumed power in January after former ruler Nicolás Maduro was detained by U.S. authorities, may be using the crisis to strengthen her position and delay new elections.
The twin earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck Venezuela’s Caribbean coast on June 24, just 39 seconds apart. In the immediate aftermath, residents and volunteers reported a severe shortage of heavy rescue equipment and the absence of government emergency teams in many affected areas. International rescue missions later arrived to assist, while U.S. aircraft supported humanitarian deliveries and aerial coordination. Officials say restrictions on civilian access to La Guaira are intended to keep transport routes clear for emergency services.
