Rescue operations continued across Venezuela on Sunday as emergency teams searched for survivors following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country earlier this week. Officials said the death toll has climbed to nearly 1,500, while thousands remain injured or missing.
The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, caused widespread destruction across several regions. The coastal state of La Guaira suffered the worst damage, with dozens of buildings collapsing into rubble. Rescue workers have been racing against time to locate people trapped beneath the debris.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said search and rescue efforts remain active because survivors are still being found. She stressed that authorities have not suspended operations and continue to hope for more successful rescues.
The government also announced the formation of a presidential commission to assess whether damaged buildings are safe for future use. Schools in La Guaira will remain closed for another week, while electricity service in the affected state has been restored to about 75 percent.
Officials said the number of people killed in Venezuela has reached nearly 1,500. More than 3,100 people have been injured, over 12,700 residents have been displaced, and 774 buildings have collapsed.
Authorities described the coming hours as critical for rescue efforts. Emergency teams are also working to establish temporary camps for families who have lost their homes or cannot safely return.
More than 2,600 international rescue workers have joined local emergency teams in the search operation. Volunteers had spent several days searching through the rubble before additional foreign assistance arrived.
Government officials reported that at least 33 people were rescued alive over the weekend. Among them were several children. A father and his son were also pulled alive from a collapsed building on Sunday.
Despite these successful rescues, tens of thousands of people remain unaccounted for. An opposition-supported missing persons website listed just under 50,000 people as missing, down from around 55,000 reported a day earlier.
Rescue experts warned that the chances of finding survivors decrease significantly after the first 72 hours. Swiss rescue officials said their search dogs located several trapped victims, but some could not be reached in time.
International rescue teams also saved several children during ongoing operations. A Colombian team rescued an 11-year-old boy from beneath the rubble, while Mexican rescuers pulled another child to safety in Caraballeda.
Pope Leo expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela and thanked rescue workers for their efforts. Meanwhile, the United States is expected to announce additional financial assistance worth hundreds of millions of dollars to support disaster relief operations.
In other news read more about Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Nears 1,000 as Over 50,000 Remain Missing
The earthquakes have also disrupted key infrastructure. Venezuela’s largest oil refinery, the 645,000-barrel-per-day Amuay refinery, suspended operations after a major power outage in Falcon state. Rescue efforts continue as authorities remain focused on finding survivors and assisting affected communities.
