Additional Coverage:
- Venezuela’s earthquakes death toll reaches 3,533 as survivors look for missing relatives (nbcnews.com)
Twelve days after a devastating pair of earthquakes struck Venezuela, the nation grapples with profound loss and widespread destruction. The twin quakes have claimed at least 3,533 lives and left thousands injured, with countless others still missing amid the rubble.
Across the country, vigils have become a somber ritual. On Sunday evening, hundreds gathered in Caracas and Maracaibo to honor those who perished and to remember the missing. At the Central University of Caracas, mourners arranged white candles on the ground to form the outline of Venezuela, a poignant symbol of collective grief.
As rescue teams shifted focus from searching for survivors to recovering bodies, acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a seven-day period of national mourning. The sorrow extends beyond Venezuela’s borders, as families abroad urgently seek information about missing relatives. Two cousins-one residing in Spain and the other in Orlando, Florida-have appealed via social media for assistance in locating their grandparents, who lived in a collapsed building in Caraballeda.
Valeria Veloz, living in Spain, explained that international rescue teams recommended the use of cranes and heavy machinery to lift massive concrete slabs obstructing the search. Her cousin Pedro Veloz, speaking from Orlando, emphasized the critical need for such equipment to access the remains.
Among those on the ground is Ryan Ash of Chazak Rescue, a Pennsylvania-based organization. Ash has been working overnight shifts to recover bodies, adapting to the harsh conditions by digging through debris under the cover of darkness and resting during the hot days.
In response to the crisis, President Rodríguez established a new military unit dedicated to emergency and disaster management, underscoring the long and challenging road to recovery for a country already burdened by political instability and economic hardship. Prior to the earthquakes, nearly 8 million Venezuelans required humanitarian aid amid shortages of food, medicine, and basic services.
Government officials report over 850 buildings damaged or destroyed, though NASA satellite data suggests the figure may be closer to 59,000, including critical infrastructure such as hospitals and schools. More than 17,000 people have been displaced.
Reconstruction efforts have begun in Brisas de Maiquetia, a residential complex in La Guaira. Resident Ester Birrier expressed cautious hope, noting authorities’ promise to complete rebuilding within three months and to provide residents with restored apartments.
Healthcare providers face immense challenges as they tend to the injured in severely strained conditions. Clínica Alfa, the sole private clinic still operational in La Guaira, lost several doctors and staff members to the disaster and now depends heavily on donations to continue care. Volunteer doctor Raxmara Godoy warned of worsening health conditions and a growing risk of infectious diseases in the affected zones.
Among the survivors is 12-year-old Fabiana Blanco, who was trapped for 30 hours before rescue. Despite injuries to her legs and back, she remains resilient. “The important thing is that I’m alive,” she said, describing her wounds as battle scars – reminders of her struggle and determination.
While the current death toll stands in the thousands, experts from the U.S. Geological Survey estimate that the final number could range from 10,000 to 100,000, depending largely on the country’s capacity to care for the injured and prevent further loss of life.
Rafael Velasquez of the International Rescue Committee emphasized the fragility of Venezuela’s health system: “When the spotlight goes somewhere else, the numbers of affected, injured, and deceased continue to rise because there’s no health system standing.”
As Venezuela begins the arduous process of healing and rebuilding, the resilience of its people remains at the forefront amid overwhelming challenges.