Jorge Rodríguez, the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, provided an updated casualty count on Friday afternoon following the twin earthquakes that struck the nation two days ago. Current official data indicates that 920 people have lost their lives, while 3,360 individuals have sustained injuries. In a statement to AFP, Tom Fletcher, the lead humanitarian official for the UN, noted that estimates suggest more than 50,000 people remain missing.
Reports from the Spanish foreign ministry confirm that four Spanish citizens have died due to the seismic events. Authorities are currently searching for 106 missing nationals, with 14 individuals confirmed to be trapped beneath debris. These victims are the primary focus for the rescue teams arriving via Air Force aircraft. Spanish officials are urging their citizens in the country to maintain contact with emergency consular services. Tragically, Isabel Jara, the director of the Canary Islands Office in Venezuela, is among the confirmed deceased, according to regional government officials.
Spain is actively coordinating the repatriation of its citizens and working to locate those who were either unregistered or in need of specialized assistance. This operation includes a military flight carrying personnel from the Madrid Fire Brigade, AECID, and the Military Emergency Unit (UME). Spain has also allocated an initial emergency aid package valued at one million euros and is assisting the broader international response through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which includes an offer to deploy a field hospital to bolster local medical capacity.
The UME has officially arrived in Venezuela with a contingent comprising 59 personnel, eight canine search units, and two Army engineers to assist in ongoing rescue efforts. Beyond these initial steps, Spain is reviewing plans to increase the deployment of specialized teams and humanitarian supplies from various regional logistics hubs. A military aircraft carrying aid workers and emergency supplies has already begun its return flight, transporting 59 Spanish nationals, 11 from Portugal, and one Bulgarian citizen to the Dominican Republic. To date, 16 countries, alongside the United Nations, have mobilized flights to deliver essential humanitarian aid in the coming days.
