Venezuela double earthquake death toll nears 3,000 as rescue efforts end and false child survivor rumor spreads

Death toll reaches nearly 3,000

The double earthquake that struck northern Venezuela on June 24 has killed at least 2,954 people, with the official toll approaching 3,000, according to figures released on Saturday, July 4. The epicenter was in La Guaira state, where entire buildings were reduced to ruins on the day of the twin tremors. Many survivors remain homeless, forced to shelter in parks with no clear prospect of aid, as the full scale of the disaster becomes apparent.

Rescue operations wind down

International rescue teams are gradually ceasing the search for survivors in the rubble. An American team with dogs arrived on Thursday and used sensitive equipment to detect sounds, but found no signs of life, a rescuer told AFP. A Spanish team later confirmed the absence of survivors in the Caraballeda area, where hopes had been briefly raised by a rumor. The official death toll is expected to rise further as bodies are recovered from collapsed structures.

False hope: the child survivor rumor

In Caraballeda, within La Guaira state, a rumor spread on social media that a child was still alive under the debris. Influencers posted videos, and a Venezuelan volunteer claimed to have heard cries early Friday morning. He said the child was buried too deep for dogs to detect. The military quickly cordoned off the area and blocked press access. However, both American and Spanish rescue teams found no survivor, dashing the hopes of families who had gathered at the site.

There are people who came to make TikToks and it circulated worldwide.

They said there was supposedly a living child, that the child was breathing, then urinating, then kicking.

Every time people digging go in, we ask them: 'Did you see him?' (and they answer) 'No, I didn't see him, but he's there.' They can't tell the truth. In fact, they are playing with the families' pain.

Aftermath and reactions

The false rumor has compounded the anguish of families already searching for loved ones. José Francisco Liendo, 50, who lost his father and sister in the collapse, has not left the site, hoping to recover their bodies. Katherine Lendoiro, who accompanied the child's family during the search, expressed indignation at those who spread the rumor. The incident reveals the challenge of misinformation during disaster response, as rescue efforts officially wind down and the focus shifts to recovery and identification of the dead.