Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Climbs to 920 as Tens of Thousands Remain Unaccounted For

Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Climbs to 920 as Tens of Thousands Remain Unaccounted For

Rescue teams are racing against time in Venezuela after the country’s devastating twin earthquakes claimed at least 920 lives, while more than 3,300 people have been injured.

Officials said over 50,000 people are still missing as emergency workers continue digging through collapsed buildings in search of survivors.

The latest casualty figures were announced by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, while the United Nations warned that thousands remain unaccounted for.

The powerful 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes, the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, flattened homes, roads and public infrastructure, with the coastal state of La Guaira suffering some of the worst destruction.

Search operations have been slowed by a shortage of heavy machinery, forcing many residents to clear debris with their bare hands in hopes of finding trapped relatives and neighbours.

International support has continued to grow, with at least 16 countries and the United Nations sending humanitarian assistance, rescue specialists and medical teams to the disaster-stricken nation.

Spain has launched one of the largest foreign rescue missions so far, deploying military emergency personnel, firefighters, search dogs and humanitarian workers.

Spanish authorities confirmed that four of their citizens died in the disaster, while another 106 remain missing.

Fourteen of those missing are believed to be trapped beneath collapsed structures and have been prioritised by rescue teams.

Among those killed was Isabel Jara, who headed the Canary Islands government’s representative office in Venezuela.

Madrid has also released an initial €1 million emergency relief package, activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism and offered to deploy its START mobile field hospital to strengthen ongoing relief efforts.