Venezuela quake death toll rises to 235 after major double earthquakes

Magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 Tremors Rock Venezuela and the Caribbean

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela and other regions in the Caribbean on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEST), marking one of the strongest seismic events to strike Venezuela in more than a century. The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes could be felt throughout the region. Government ministers have asked citizens to trust the government in its response to the earthquakes that shook the country.

Health Minister Carlos Alvarado provided an update on state television on Thursday evening (Friday morning AEST), reporting that the death toll had climbed to about 235 with 4,500 injuries as international rescue teams joined the effort to pull survivors from the rubble. Footage broadcast on state television showed three children covered in dust being pulled alive from collapsed structures in La Guaira state.

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Delcy Rodríguez visited La Guaira state on Thursday, the area most affected by the powerful earthquakes that shook the country, describing the coastal region as a “disaster zone” and one of the areas hardest hit by the quakes because of the large number of collapsed buildings. Rodríguez led a meeting with officials in La Guaira to assess the situation and emphasise that the priority is focused on expediting operational decision-making to safeguard the lives of the population and assist the affected families, according to the statement.

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Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello made a message to the media broadcast on state television, stating: We have the people of La Guaira organised so far, and that is one of the things we ask of them most: that the people organise themselves, that they trust their government. Rodríguez said authorities were shifting rescue teams. Residents and rescue workers searched through the rubble of a building that collapsed in earthquakes that struck in Caracas, Venezuela. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the ABC on Friday it’s too early to judge whether Australians have been impacted by the quakes, stating: We’re continuing to monitor the situation, and our heart goes out to anyone here who has relatives or friends in Venezuela. Albanese added that because this is one of the worst earthquakes that we’ve seen in recent times, with catastrophic human consequences, a massive loss of life, but also massive infrastructure damage and real consequences for the people of Venezuela.

International Aid Deployments and Global Responses

Governments across the globe mobilized relief resources as damage assessments continued. The U.S. State Department announced that the US will provide $US150 million in aid to Venezuela and the US Defence Department will also provide aircraft to assess damage, find injured victims and deliver life-saving assistance. Meanwhile, Donald Trump reiterated his intention to help Venezuela in a social media post.

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The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly. We will be there for our new and great friends. Early reports are not good!!! Donald Trump, via Truth Social

Marco Rubio added that the US was deploying search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles, noting that a Disaster Assistance Response Team is also being deployed to provide expertise on disaster response. We will have a whole government response, Rubio said on Thursday in Bahrain, noting they were facing logistical obstacles with Caracas’ airport collapsed. It will be big. It will be fast. It will be effective. The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, also announced the deployment of a team of rescuers and health personnel from the Secretariat of National Defence to bolster the effort as well.