Venezuela Earthquakes Cause Widespread Devastation, Death Toll Rises

The death toll from two powerful earthquakes in Venezuela has climbed to 589, while 2,980 people have been injured, acting President Delcy Rodríguez said early Friday as international rescue teams arrived to assist with relief efforts.

Speaking alongside government and military officials, Rodríguez said search-and-rescue operations remained the top priority. “We are going to rescue the people who are trapped,” she said, as cited by AP. “We are working tirelessly on this task.”

She said the coastal state of La Guaira has borne the brunt of the twin 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck on Wednesday evening, adding that the area has been placed under military control as rescue teams continue searching for survivors and distributing food and water.

The death toll is expected to rise further, with thousands of people reported missing as rescue teams continue searching through the rubble.

The International Organization for Migration estimates that up to 6.76 million people across Venezuela could be affected by the earthquakes, including around 2 million in the capital, Caracas.

Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross' regional director for the Americas, said "people are still terrified to reenter what were their homes."

Survivors, including children, were pulled from the debris covered in dust and blood as emergency responders raced to reach those still trapped.

Residents awoke on Thursday to scenes of widespread devastation, with buildings reduced to skeletal frames, furniture hanging from shattered windows and helicopters circling overhead.

Entire structures had collapsed, while roads were left cracked and damaged by the powerful earthquakes.

Families put up missing-person notices bearing photographs of loved ones, while others circulated handwritten lists of names in desperate attempts to locate relatives.

Venezuelans living abroad also struggled to reach family members as phone services remained disrupted across parts of the country.

In downtown Caracas, hundreds of people spent the night in parks, parking lots and other open spaces, fearing further aftershocks.

Governments and humanitarian organisations around the world have begun mobilising rescue teams, funding and emergency supplies for earthquake-hit Venezuela.

India on Friday launched Operation Amistad ("friend" in Spanish), dispatching two Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 aircraft carrying a field hospital unit and more than 35 tonnes of relief supplies.

Announcing the mission in a post on X, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar wrote, "Operation Amistad underway! Two @IAF_MCC C17s took-off today for Venezuela with urgent assistance to support their post-earthquake relief efforts. "

The United States has approved $150 million in humanitarian assistance, including funding for UN agencies and aid organisations, and has deployed disaster response teams and urban search-and-rescue units.

The US military also announced the deployment of two warships, transport aircraft and helicopters to support relief operations, while the Treasury temporarily eased sanctions until October 23 to facilitate earthquake-related assistance.

Several countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Spain, France, Italy, Ecuador, Panama and El Salvador, have also dispatched or pledged rescue teams, medical personnel, search dogs, aircraft and emergency equipment to support relief efforts.