Race against time in Venezuela: 33 pulled from rubble as death toll rises beyond 1,400

Death toll and devastation

Two powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela on the night of Wednesday, 24 June, causing buildings to collapse across Caracas and the northern coast. Government figures on the number of dead differ between accounts: the latest official balance cited by SIC Notícias puts the toll at 1,430, while other reports speak of 1,450 fatalities. Thousands more are injured, with estimates ranging between 3,150 and 3,360 wounded. In some places, residents dig with their bare hands, waiting for heavy machinery that has yet to arrive.

“The rescue of the people who are alive is our priority.”

Rescue operations against time

More than 14,000 Venezuelan soldiers and police officers are on the ground, supported by about 1,000 rescuers from other nations. By Sunday 28 June, the acting president Delcy Rodríguez confirmed that 33 people had been pulled alive from the debris. Among them is a 9-month-old infant and his mother, saved by an American team on 27 June; an 11-year-old boy rescued after 76 hours under concrete slabs in Caraballeda; and a 60-year-old woman extracted after 86 hours, a rescue announced by El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele. The passage of the 72-hour mark has dimmed hopes, but teams continue working against the clock.

Frustration with government response

In La Guaira and Caracas, many Venezuelans describe a state response that is far from enough. Relatives of the missing wait outside collapsed buildings, sometimes hearing voices beneath the rubble but unable to act. A family member of Carlos Eduardo, a 31-year-old man still trapped in La Guaira, told the BBC they know where he is but lack the means to free him. In Caraballeda, rescue volunteer Mileidy Romero reported seeing bodies, including newborn babies, that had not been recovered. "What are they waiting for?" she asked.

“We are all very frustrated because the government is not offering what it should: serious help.”

Healthcare system on the brink

The quakes have deepened a pre-existing health crisis. Hospitals in the affected areas are damaged, emergency rooms are overflowed, and there are shortages of beds, basic supplies and medicines. Patients often have to provide their own food and medication, items that have become even scarcer and more expensive after the disaster. International help and local solidarity have allowed the setup of field hospitals, but the public health system remains on the verge of collapse, with frequent power and water cuts.

International aid and solidarity

Twenty-four countries have sent direct assistance, including the United States, Spain, Portugal and El Salvador. Portuguese volunteers in Aveiro are collecting food and essential goods to be shipped to Venezuela in early July. A Portuguese rescue mission is already operating on site. Among the dead are at least 51 Portuguese citizens and people of Portuguese descent. Solidarity campaigns are multiplying, but authorities admit the final number of victims could climb further as around 50,000 people remain unreachable.