At least 1,450 people have died since last week’s devastating earthquakes in Venezuela. Teams are on the ground in La Guaira and Caracas, digging through rubble in a desperate bid to locate survivors. Search efforts have produced glimmers of hope, including the rescue of an infant and a woman trapped for over three days. Officials are hoping a surge of foreign aid and responders will bolster emergency workers and address humanitarian needs, which have become increasingly critical as the disaster compounds years of economic and political strife for an already overwhelmed healthcare system.
Dr. Andres Cortiz, a volunteer with the UK-based charity Healing Venezuela, stated that hospitals in the capital are completely overwhelmed. He reported that eight hospitals in or near Caracas were forced to close due to structural damage from the back-to-back 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes. Patients were transferred to other clinics, which are now operating beyond their capacity. Dr. Cortiz noted an urgent need for disinfecting solutions, explaining that staff lack sufficient bleach, detergent, and sterilization materials to maintain hygiene.
Fear intensified Monday morning when a 4.6-magnitude aftershock struck just a few kilometers from La Guaira. While National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez reported no further damage, the event reignited fears among residents living in temporary shelters. The Chacao Mayor’s Office in Caracas has implemented a traffic light system to assess buildings: green for habitable, yellow for moderate damage, and red for structures unsafe for entry. Cracked facades and fissures remain visible throughout the city.
Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the first Cuban fatality, Lupercio Adrian D’Pérez y Pando, and has sent a rescue brigade to support operations. Additionally, US disaster response teams, operating under the US Southern Command, arrived Saturday with rescue dogs and humanitarian supplies. US Marines and helicopters from the USS Lauderdale have assisted in search and aerial surveys.
Mariana Siblesz de Alvarez, chair of the charity Chamos, warned that the disaster has deepened the crisis for children. She noted that before the quakes, many children already faced malnutrition and limited healthcare, issues stemming from the country’s economic collapse between 2013 and 2021, when the economy shrank by three-quarters. The disaster further strains social services, leaving displaced families in a precarious position.
Rescue operations continued into the fifth day. A 21-year-old man, Aaron Levi Cantillo Vargas, was rescued in La Guaira following a coordinated effort by teams from Venezuela, Mexico, and El Salvador. Separately, Belkys Josefina Barreto García, 60, recounted how she felt “reborn” after being pulled from rubble in Caraballeda 86 hours after the quakes. She described knocking on stones with a piece of metal to alert rescuers. Earlier, a mother, Dayana Patino, and her newborn son, Juan David Trujillo, were rescued 30 hours after the event.
According to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, at least 3,150 people are injured and 12,721 have lost their homes. UNICEF estimates 680,000 children are in need of humanitarian assistance. As the golden window for finding survivors closes, residents continue to rely on solidarity, sharing food and supplies while facing shortages of essentials like diapers and gloves. Despite the trauma, hope persists, and communities continue to signal gratitude for the international response team presence.
