At least 1,430 dead and tens of thousands missing as survivors are pulled from rubble days after Venezuela quakes

The earthquakes

Two quakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck on 24 June, only 39 seconds apart, devastating coastal areas including La Guaira. The death toll has reached at least 1,430, including 48 Portuguese nationals, and around 50,000 people remain missing. Aftershocks, including a 4.8 magnitude tremor on Saturday, have further frayed nerves and complicated rescue operations.

Rescue efforts

Spain's Military Emergency Unit released footage of a man being pulled alive from the rubble in Maiquetia with a broad grin. Rescue teams are racing against time, but years of economic turmoil have left Venezuela's response slow and poorly equipped. Ordinary people are digging through debris with their hands, as basic supplies like paper and pencil are scarce for recording bodies. Collapse of the only road linking Caracas and La Guaira has added to the logistical nightmare.

“Every person saved is a miracle.”

Stories of survival

An 18-day-old baby was found alive under debris and reunited with his father; rescuers later pulled his mother alive as well. Graciela Mora survived by clinging to a door frame, breaking a finger, while her friend beside her died. A man trapped in Maiquetia emerged grinning, and rescuers also worked to save animals. These moments of hope fuel the search amid the destruction.

Politics and instability

Opposition leader María Corina Machado plans to return to Venezuela, a move that would force acting President Delcy Rodríguez to choose between national unity or accusations of closing political space during a national emergency. The political dimension adds to the instability as the country mourns.

International response

Portugal's Venezuelan community in Aveiro has begun collecting goods and will open a bank account for financial aid. Spain dispatched its military emergency unit. The scale of the disaster, however, far outstrips the current response, with many families still waiting for help from authorities.