More than 1,940 people have died following the twin devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela. Rescue teams and local residents continue searching through the ruins of collapsed buildings—using heavy machinery and even their bare hands—in desperate efforts to locate survivors. While hopes are fading for most of the tens of thousands still missing, small miracles continue to occur: on Tuesday, Jordanian rescuers pulled a three-year-old child alive from the rubble in Caracas.
A Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The country is enduring one of its worst disasters in modern history—the 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude quakes struck within hours of each other. Hundreds of homes lie flattened. Survivors face extreme shortages of food and shelter—and the United Nations warns that disease outbreaks could soon follow.
Official figures now stand at over 2,000 confirmed dead, more than 10,500 injured, and over 50,000 people still unaccounted for. Some reports—including from Venezuelan authorities—cite higher numbers: up to 1,430 dead, 3,238 injured, and as many as 68,900 missing, according to families’ accounts.
Infrastructure in Ruins
Satellite imagery analyzed by NASA estimates that approximately 58,870 buildings were damaged or destroyed across quake-affected areas. Critical infrastructure—including roads, hospitals, and power grids—suffered severe damage. In La Guaira state, north of Caracas and among the hardest-hit regions, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported widespread food shortages, collapsed basic services, and near-total communication blackouts.
“Tensions within the population are rising, as access to aid remains severely limited,” UNHCR added.
Desperation on the Ground
In La Guaira, 18-year-old shop assistant Daniela Armas—who was injured during the quakes—described conditions reminiscent of disaster films: “Aid is being distributed here… but sometimes people die fighting over food… It’s like cockfighting—we’re all battling for survival.” Images circulating online show bodies covered in lime—a public health measure to reduce odor and insect infestation amid delays in recovery.
Urgent Appeal for Aid
Against this backdrop, the World Food Programme (WFP) has launched an emergency appeal for $50 million to deliver food assistance to around 500,000 people over the next three months. The agency stressed that many affected families were already struggling to meet basic needs before the earthquakes struck.