Venezuela Earthquakes Claim 1,450 Lives, Leave Thousands Missing and Displaced

The recent earthquakes that struck Venezuela have resulted in a substantial human and structural toll, marking the most severe seismic event the country has experienced in over a century. According to Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly, 1,450 deaths have been confirmed, with 33 individuals rescued alive from the rubble. However, the United Nations estimates that approximately 50,000 people remain missing amid the chaos.

The disasters, which began on a Wednesday, particularly devastated the coastal eastern region, notably La Guaira near Caracas, with 774 buildings structurally damaged and 189 completely collapsed. Injuries have been confirmed in 3,150 people as emergency efforts continue. Experts warn that the likelihood of finding survivors diminishes significantly after the first 48 to 72 hours following such calamities.

More than six million people were potentially affected directly or indirectly, with projections indicating that up to 6.8 million residents might have endured the earthquakes' impacts. The crisis has also led to the indefinite closure of Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, while other airports like Valencia have resumed operations.

The International Organization for Migration (OIM) emphasizes the scale of displacement and trauma in the affected communities, underscoring the urgency of humanitarian responses. Venezuelan authorities are coordinating ongoing rescue and recovery operations amid the extensive destruction and widespread human loss.