International aid intensifies in Venezuela as search for survivors continues after earthquakes
The death toll from the powerful earthquakes that hit Venezuela rose to 235 dead, while the United States and Mexico, among other nations, intensified their support. Thousands of citizens were injured and hundreds are still considered missing or trapped under the rubble, creating a race against time.
The arrival of more international rescue teams in Venezuela was confirmed on Friday morning, in an urgent effort to locate survivors and recover bodies from the collapsed structures. The two devastating earthquakes resulted in widespread destruction and an increasing number of fatalities.
The Mexican rescue teams were the last to disembark, as informed by the President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, on social media, in the early hours of Friday. A few hours earlier, a US Marine Corps major general arrived in Caracas with the mission of coordinating US military assistance, according to US Southern Command.
The natural disaster poses an additional challenge to a country already facing a decade-long deep economic crisis. Corruption and previous mismanagement left infrastructure, the health system and rescue services in extremely precarious conditions. The recovery of survivors is severely hampered by a shortage of heavy machinery, such as state-owned tractors and excavators, many of which are inoperable due to a lack of parts and maintenance.
The densely populated states in the northern region of Venezuela were the hardest hit. Images broadcast live by state broadcaster on Friday showed rescue operations underway in the port city of La Guaira, the capital of a state north of Caracas where most of the casualties were reported, according to health officials.
Scenes of anguish were seen in La Guaira and the port city of Catia La Mar, with survivors mourning the loss of family and friends. In several places, bodies remained exposed in the streets, awaiting removal.
📹 Un hombre busca a su hijo bajo los escombros tras los fuertes terremotos que azotaron Venezuela: "Esto es lo que quedó del edificio donde vivía mi hijo" pic.twitter.com/nkkO1yVoLW
— EL PAÍS América (@elpais_america) June 26, 2026
Humanitarian organizations are preparing a large-scale response to provide temporary housing, drinking water and essential items for up to 200,000 displaced people in the north of the country, according to a representative of a non-governmental organization in Caracas.
Increase in the number of victims and the challenges of rescue operations
Health Minister Carlos Alvarado confirmed that at least 235 people lost their lives and more than 4,300 were injured after Wednesday’s two earthquakes, in an update on Thursday. Previous information from the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez, indicated that more than 200 individuals were trapped under the rubble and another 157 remained missing.
The catastrophe is expected to test the recent alliance between the United States and Venezuela’s interim government, established after an American military operation in January that resulted in Nicolás Maduro’s departure from power. The US State Department announced the allocation of US$150 million to humanitarian aid groups in the country. Additionally, the U.S. military is mobilizing resources in the region, including aircraft and an amphibious transport ship, to support relief efforts.
The “golden window” for redemptions is a critical factor. Dr. Jarone Lee, associate professor at Harvard Medical School and disaster response expert, stressed that the first 24 to 48 hours after an earthquake are crucial for finding survivors, although resistance can stretch. Other experts point to a 72-hour window as the period with the greatest chance of saving lives.
Scientists pointed out that several geological factors contributed to the destructive force of the tremors. The earthquakes occurred in quick succession, in a rare phenomenon known as a “doublet”, and hit a valley filled with loose sediments, which intensifies the vibrations and, consequently, the damage.
The Chinese government, together with the Chinese Red Cross, announced that it will provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Venezuela. The information was released by Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a press conference on Friday.
Major General Kevin J. Jarrard of the US Marine Corps arrived in Caracas to coordinate and lead US military support for relief efforts, US Southern Command reported on social media. The command had previously stated that it was mobilizing significant resources, such as transport planes and helicopters, to assist search and rescue teams and deliver aid.
Venezuela’s coastal regions face vast destruction after earthquakes
Photo and video evidence reveals that the coastal area north of Caracas suffered some of the most severe impacts from the earthquakes that hit Venezuela on Wednesday.
Health Minister Carlos Alvarado updated the death toll to 235 as of 7 p.m., telling state broadcaster VTV that more than 4,300 people were injured, most with minor injuries. He highlighted that most of the victims were concentrated in the state of La Guaira, one of the hardest hit.
The Southern Command of the American military announced the mobilization of available forces in the region to support relief operations in Venezuela. The statement included sending the USS Fort Lauderdale, an amphibious transport ship, and the USS Billings, a combat vessel designed to operate in shallow coastal waters.
C-17 and C-130 transport aircraft, accompanied by helicopters and reconnaissance assets, will support these initiatives. SOUTHCOM clarified in a statement that the mission would involve assessing damage, locating survivors and distributing humanitarian assistance.
In a gesture of solidarity, Venezuelan Major League Baseball players and coaches wore their team caps embroidered with “VZ” on Thursday in honor of the victims. More than 6% of the athletes on this year’s Opening Day rosters were born in Venezuela, a country that has a great passion for baseball and won the most recent World Baseball Classic title, a moment of national pride.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told journalists that 68 Spanish citizens were missing in Venezuela following the tremors.
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The Vatican announced the donation of 100 thousand euros in aid to Venezuela, according to Vatican News. The amount, coordinated through local ecclesiastical authorities, constitutes a “first step”, and further aid will be sent “in response to the needs identified by the local Church”.
Understand the factors that influence survival under rubble
There is no exact and definitive time frame for how long a person can survive trapped under rubble after an earthquake, according to research and expert advice.
For individuals trapped in collapsed buildings, the chances of survival depend on a variety of factors, such as the severity of the injuries, the availability of food and water, the height of the structure, and the ability to breathe.
Venezuelan authorities estimate that hundreds of people may still be buried under the rubble after Wednesday’s powerful earthquakes. Local community organizations and first responders, aided by family, neighbors and volunteers, search relentlessly for survivors, while additional teams from multiple nations join the effort.
The first 24 to 48 hours after a quake are considered crucial to finding people alive, according to Dr. Jarone Lee, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and an expert in disaster response. Other experts advocate a 72-hour “golden window” to save as many lives as possible.
However, hope sometimes exceeds these projections. In 2023, two Turkish brothers were rescued after resisting for around eight days under the rubble. That year, an earthquake on the border between Syria and Turkey killed more than 50,000 people, according to United Nations estimates.
“The odds of finding survivors in a building that collapsed after five to seven days are rare, but not impossible,” said Dr. Lee, reinforcing the complexity of rescues.
In some cases, collapsing buildings can create “pockets” or “voids” where survivors are trapped without being crushed. In these spaces, depending on the availability of air, water and food, people can resist for days or even weeks, although such occurrences are uncommon. Those who are trapped without serious injuries still face risks such as exposure to the elements and a lack of basic resources. Dust-saturated air can also cause suffocation.
Venezuela’s relatively warm climate minimizes concerns about deaths from hypothermia for those under the rubble, as noted by Ilan Kelman, a professor who researches disasters and health at University College London. However, the country’s medical resources, which had already suffered from frequent shortages of basic goods in recent years, were strained even before the tremors.
Dr. Lee also warned that some deaths could occur immediately after the tremors, when individuals try to rescue family members by entering structures that are still unstable.
Another significant risk for relief teams is the possibility of aftershocks. Based on decades-old historical data, the United States Geological Survey has predicted the likelihood of at least one aftershock of magnitude 5.0 or greater next week.
The quality of infrastructure plays a key role in the lethality of a building collapse. Images of the destruction in Venezuela suggest that many of the buildings that collapsed were built with weak concrete, without adequate steel reinforcement, explained Christian Málaga-Chuquitaype, a structural engineer at Imperial College London who specializes in seismic resilience.
Dr. Kelman argued that earthquake deaths should be seen more as a consequence of past political decisions than as inevitable natural tragedies.
“Earthquakes don’t kill people, the collapse of infrastructure does,” he declared, emphasizing the importance of establishing and enforcing safety standards in construction and preparing the population for such events.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has predicted an increase in the number of casualties as emergency teams continue round-the-clock search operations. International support, according to the agency, is being mobilized quickly, with search and rescue teams on their way to several countries.
Temporary shelters have been set up for displaced residents, the UN said, citing major disruptions to electricity, water and telecommunications services, as well as transport systems.
Virginia Task Force 1, a search and rescue team based in Fairfax, USA, had not yet departed for Venezuela, according to John Morrison, a spokesman for the task force. The delay occurred because the US State Department, responsible for coordinating the deployment of disaster response teams, has not yet confirmed whether large aircraft could land at Simón Bolívar International Airport, near Caracas.
Videos verified by the Times showed scenes of commotion at the airport on Wednesday as the earthquake shook the structure, raising clouds of dust and causing ceilings to collapse. The airport, which has three runways, is located in La Guaira, the province most affected by the tremor. The Virginia team includes 80 people and six search dogs.
Natural disaster in Venezuela tests recent alliance with the United States
The worst natural disaster Venezuela has faced in decades puts the country’s complex alliance with the United States to the test. The tragedy appears as an unexpected obstacle in Washington’s strategy to reconfigure the South American nation into an economic protectorate.
Previously, former President Donald Trump had classified the military operation that removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power as a success, saying it redirected the flow of Venezuelan oil and gold to the United States.
