International rescue teams arrive in Venezuela as twin earthquakes kill more than 900 and aftershocks collapse bridge

Devastation from twin quakes

More than 900 people died when two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, with the coastal state of La Guaira bearing the brunt of the damage. At least 100 buildings collapsed or were heavily damaged, many of them residential high-rises, and the epicentre area near Morón remained without electricity two days later.

Residents and volunteers in La Guaira, a popular beach destination east of Caracas, had spent days digging through rubble with their hands as they pled for heavy equipment and a stronger official presence. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said 14,000 military and police officers had been deployed to patrol the area and implement sanitary measures.

Rescue operations and international aid

A massive international response is now underway. Seventeen flights carrying more than 1,600 members of rescue teams from abroad have arrived, and an additional 25 flights are due over the next 24 hours, foreign ministry official Oliver Blanco confirmed. Ten more countries are still expected to join the effort.

“In recent hours, Venezuela has received 17 flights carrying more than 1,600 members of rescue teams, and over the next 24 hours, the arrival of 25 additional flights is expected.”

The United States dispatched Marine Corps General Kevin J. Jarrard to coordinate military support with Venezuelan defence chief General Gustavo González López. A joint statement said the U.S. Departments of Defense and State were “working with our allies to help the Venezuelan people.” An Italian mission of 97 rescuers, doctors, firefighters and crisis-unit officials landed at Maracay’s military airport late Friday, while a separate European Union civil-protection team included two specialist firefighters from Italy’s Veneto region.

Aftershocks and infrastructure collapse

The initial quakes have been followed by a series of strong aftershocks. A magnitude 4.9 tremor on Friday afternoon caused a key bridge in Caraballeda to collapse, cutting off road access to one of the worst-hit areas and severely complicating the delivery of heavy machinery and humanitarian aid. Earlier that day, a 4.4-magnitude event had rattled the region at dawn. Another 4.9 quake was recorded on Saturday morning north of Maracay, felt as far away as Caracas.

Movement restricted as power slowly returns

Caracas–La Guaira road access was closed to civilian traffic on Friday evening. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced that from 8:00 p.m. local time entry to La Guaira state would be restricted and require a credential for anyone not part of an official rescue team. Police turned away journalists from the main road on Saturday morning, while secondary routes were choked with traffic.

“Access to La Guaira state will be restricted from 8:00 pm local time.”

Power has been partially restored, about 60 percent of the grid was back online, Delcy Rodriguez said, but the chronically underinvested network remained fully down in La Guaira and around the epicentre in Morón.

Human cost: footballer among the dead

Among the confirmed victims is 18-year-old Yimvert Berroterán, a midfielder for Venezuela’s under-20 national team and Universidad Central de Venezuela, who had been missing for three days in the Los Corales sector of La Guaira.

“Venezuelan football bids farewell with immense pain to a boy who proudly represented the country’s colours.”

The federation added: “Your light will continue to live in every Vinotinto heartbeat.”