Death Toll Rises to 235, Thousands Injured
Venezuela's Health Minister Carlos Alvarado announced on Thursday that approximately 235 people have died and at least 4,300 have been injured following two catastrophic earthquakes that struck the country's northern coast on Wednesday evening. Speaking to state media, Alvarado stated, "Unfortunately we have received around 235 patients who arrive without vital signs or die when they arrive at our health facilities." The number of casualties is expected to rise as thousands remain missing after the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude quakes, among the strongest in Venezuela in over a century.
Devastation in La Guaira and Caracas
The coastal region of La Guaira, north of Caracas, suffered some of the heaviest damage and casualties. The country's main airport there was closed due to damage, complicating aid efforts. Retired schoolteacher Juan Alberto Mendaño described climbing through wreckage and past a dead body to reach a trapped woman signaling for help. "May God rescue her as quickly as possible," he said. In Caracas, panicked residents poured into streets, searching for missing loved ones amid collapsed buildings. Dayana Delgado, a mother of three, asked where the heavy machinery promised by officials was, noting that neighbors were digging through rubble. "I want to know where my child is, if he's trapped or in a shelter," she said of her 8-year-old son.
US Treasury Waives Sanctions for Relief
In response to the disaster, the US Treasury on Thursday moved to waive some sanctions until October 23 to allow transactions related to earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela that would otherwise be prohibited. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with acting President Delcy Rodríguez and said the United States was "immediately" deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and other assistance, though he acknowledged the closure of Venezuela's main airport created logistical challenges. "We have a whole-of-government response. It'll be big; it'll be fast; and it'll be effective," Rubio said.
International Aid Pours In
Several governments offered assistance, including Mexico, Qatar, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, and Canada. Aid shipments included emergency and military personnel, canine and search teams, medical supplies, water purifiers, airplanes, and drones. Rodríguez said the first rescuers from the Dominican Republic were about to land, with more from other countries expected in the coming hours. She declared a state of emergency and announced a $200 million reconstruction fund for damaged hospitals and homes.
Seismic Details and Impact
The US Geological Survey reported the first earthquake, magnitude 7.2, hit west of Moron on the Caribbean coast, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) west of Caracas, at a depth of 22 kilometers (14 miles). A minute later, a second 7.5 magnitude quake struck with a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), epicentered 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Moron. Geophysicist Marcos Ferreira of the Geological Survey of Brazil explained that the one-two punch and shallow depths amplified destruction: "It is as if I am screaming and then someone starts screaming, too. That amplifies the vibration and adds to the potential hazard."
Residents Reel from Devastation
In La Guaira, Cristian Carreño stared at his charred apartment building tilting precariously. "I lost everything. There are people still inside, I imagine, that couldn't get out. It's incredibly devastating," he said. In downtown Caracas, hundreds spent the night in parks and open spaces. María Cristina Díaz, a 41-year-old janitor, said, "We were afraid the buildings would collapse on us. My mother, my daughter and I were cold. We didn't sleep a wink." Parts of the capital lost power and cellphone service; subway services were suspended and natural gas shut off. Classes were canceled for several days, and some school buildings were used as shelters and donation centers.
Social Media Restrictions Lifted
Shortly after United Nations officials called on the government to lift social media restrictions so people could access potentially life-saving information, Venezuelans regained access to X (formerly Twitter), which had been blocked by former President Nicolas Maduro since August 2024.
