Venezuela earthquake death toll passes 1,400 as rescue window closes
Two powerful earthquakes that struck north-central Venezuela near the capital, Caracas, have killed more than 1,400 people, in one of the deadliest natural disasters to hit the country in over a century.
The quakes struck on June 24, seconds apart, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. Authorities reported a death toll that climbed past 1,400, with thousands more injured and tens of thousands displaced. Many people remained unaccounted for as search operations continued.
More than 2,000 rescue workers from 27 countries were deployed to assist, in an effort coordinated with the United Nations. Crews searched collapsed buildings for survivors, and there were occasional moments of hope — including reports of a father and son pulled out alive four days after the disaster.
The critical 72-hour window for finding survivors beneath the rubble has passed, and attention has begun shifting toward recovery and relief for the displaced. The scale of destruction has placed enormous strain on emergency services.
A preliminary assessment by the United Nations Development Programme estimated direct physical damage at around $6.7 billion, equivalent to roughly six percent of Venezuela's economic output. The disaster has also drawn criticism of the official response as families await news of missing relatives.
