Live: Venezuela Quake Toll Mounts to 235 as World Rushes Rescue Teams and Emergency Aid

The administration in Venezuela is preparing to limit entry into La Guaira state, which suffered severe damage from the two fatal earthquakes, according to Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello on Friday. During a television broadcast, Cabello announced that entry into La Guaira state will be limited starting at 8:00 pm (0000 GMT). Prior to this, interim leader Delcy Rodriguez urged citizens to avoid traveling to the region situated north of Caracas. - AFP

The US administration announced on Friday the deployment of a disaster assistance group consisting of over 250 members, which includes three specialized search-and-rescue teams, to find survivors in earthquake-ravaged Venezuela. According to a statement from the US State Department, these three specialized teams are comprised of firefighters, medical doctors, emergency responders, structural engineers, and canine search experts, accompanied by 18 trained dogs capable of detecting individuals trapped under debris following Wednesday's powerful double earthquakes. The rescue teams, sent from Miami, Los Angeles, and Fairfax County located west of Washington DC, are currently traveling to the site. They are scheduled to assist local relief operations following the disaster, which has claimed the lives of at least 920 individuals. The state department added that the personnel are transporting over 200,000 pounds of specialized equipment meant for search and rescue operations. - AFP

On Friday, citizens in Caracas shouted jeers at Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez during her visit to a district ruined by the two fatal earthquakes, according to an AFP reporter at the scene. From behind security barriers, angry locals cried out that the government is failing to assist the public, as many wait desperately for family members trapped beneath the ruins of structures collapsed by Wednesday's double tremors. - AFP

On Friday afternoon, a new earthquake struck near the northern shoreline of Venezuela, coming just days after two devastating tremors flattened structures and took the lives of close to a thousand people. Reuters journalists on the ground in Caracas and Maracay reported feeling the jolt. Seismic monitoring agency EMSC put its magnitude at 4.9.

Venezuela's official death toll from this week's consecutive earthquakes climbed on Friday to a minimum of 920 fatalities and 3,360 people injured, government authorities confirmed. The revised figures were released by Jorge Rodriguez, the presiding officer of the country's National Assembly. Officials warn the numbers could climb further as search-and-rescue crews continue working through affected areas. Countless families remain in anguish, saying relatives are still unaccounted for and likely trapped beneath collapsed structures. "Each person saved is a miracle," Rodriguez said.

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher warned on Friday (June 26) that more than 50,000 individuals remain unaccounted for in the wake of the twin earthquakes that ravaged Venezuela, cautioning that the final death count was headed for a sharp rise. "It's a very, very complex emergency response," Fletcher, who serves as UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, told AFP. "We've got over 50,000 people missing, over 500 people dead, so a massive job to go through the rubble." His remarks followed fresh casualty figures released by Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez, who disclosed on Friday that the country's confirmed death toll had surged more than twofold during the day alone, now standing at 589. Rescue crews continued pressing through the wreckage of collapsed structures in a desperate bid to pull out anyone still alive beneath the ruins. —AFP

Washington has temporarily lifted a number of economic restrictions on Venezuela for a four-month window, allowing humanitarian aid operations to function without impediment following two deadly tremors that hit the nation. A permit issued Thursday night by the U.S. Treasury Department confirms that all transactions tied to earthquake relief activities in Venezuela are authorized through October 23. The two successive quakes — measuring 7.5 and 7.2 in magnitude — struck on Wednesday and have so far killed at least 589 people, with the toll expected to climb further. International assistance has started pouring into Venezuela, a country of nearly 30 million people that has been grappling with a deep economic crisis for years. Rescue teams from Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland and the United States have already touched down in the country, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

A critical power transmission line in Venezuela's central zone has gone down, hampering efforts to fully resume normal operations at the strategic Puerto Cabello port, the El Palito refinery and the Morón petrochemical complex in the aftermath of this week's earthquakes, sources reported on Friday.

On Friday (June 26), the United Nations and a coalition of humanitarian organisations issued a joint statement calling for global "solidarity" in the wake of the deadly back-to-back earthquakes that rocked Venezuela. They insisted that the international community must not stand aside and allow this emergency to deteriorate into a far greater human catastrophe. "The people of Venezuela need solidarity right now," the heads of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) — a coordinating forum that brings UN agencies and non-UN humanitarian bodies under one roof — declared in their statement. They called for "rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access" to be granted to all those caught in the disaster.

In cities stretching across northern Venezuela, ordinary residents have been joining hands to clear rubble piece by piece, each hoping to find a family member or neighbour still alive beneath the debris. Back-to-back earthquakes have now claimed the lives of at least 589 people and left thousands of others with injuries. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced the updated figures in the early hours of Friday (June 26), flanked by government ministers and military commanders as she welcomed rescue personnel arriving from nations around the world. "We will pull out every person who remains trapped," she said. "Our teams are working on this without a moment's rest." Rodríguez singled out the state of La Guaira as the zone hit hardest by the twin tremors — the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck on Wednesday evening — and noted that the area has been placed under military administration to enable systematic search-and-rescue operations alongside the distribution of food and water to affected communities. With thousands of people still unaccounted for and relief operations continuing at full intensity, officials expect the casualty figures to climb further in the hours ahead. -AP

The most powerful earthquake to strike Venezuela in more than a century has become the defining challenge of acting President Delcy Rodriguez's brief time in office, yet the very same disaster may also give her the opening to assert firm control over a divided administration and lay the groundwork for national reconstruction. The demands ahead are immense: pulling trapped survivors from rubble, treating the wounded, and rebuilding housing and public infrastructure will require an enormous, sustained commitment from the state. How Rodriguez handles that undertaking may well determine the trajectory of her political career. She has cultivated a close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump and cast herself as a force for change, despite having served as vice president under her predecessor, the socialist Nicolas Maduro, whom Washington pushed from power in January.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez revealed in the early hours of Friday (June 26) that the combined death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has climbed to 589, with an additional 2,980 people reported as injured. She delivered the figures flanked by senior government and military officials as rescue workers who had journeyed from across the globe were received. "We are going to rescue the people who are trapped," she said. "We are working tirelessly on this task." Rodríguez said the coastal state of La Guaira bore the heaviest toll from the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck Wednesday evening, adding that the area has been placed under military control to support ongoing rescue operations and ensure the delivery of food and water to affected communities.

The United Nations announced on Friday that search-and-rescue personnel from a minimum of 17 countries are being rapidly deployed to Venezuela to assist in the hunt for survivors following the catastrophic twin earthquake disaster. UN humanitarian agency OCHA described getting those teams to the affected area as the current "top priority". Addressing journalists in Geneva, OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke said earthquakes rank among "the most devastating things that can happen to any country," calling them "a terrifying thing." He added, however, that the response now unfolding was a testament to global solidarity at its finest. "The entire humanitarian system is moving very fast, and at scale," he said, describing what was happening as "international mobilisation at its very best."

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on Friday (June 26) that Beijing is prepared to extend both emergency disaster relief and reconstruction support to Venezuela in the aftermath of its twin earthquakes, state media reported. Xi conveyed his condolences to Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez on Friday. Xinhua news agency had noted the previous day that two Chinese nationals were confirmed among the victims of the earthquakes, which have killed at least 235 people. —AFP

On Friday (June 26), India dispatched medical experts, a military field hospital, and 35 tonnes of urgent relief materials to assist earthquake-stricken Venezuela, according to External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. In an official statement, Jaishankar announced that a pair of Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft departed today carrying critical aid to bolster recovery operations in the affected region. He added that the package comprises an Indian Army field hospital alongside more than 35 tonnes of essential relief goods, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. According to the Indian Army, the deployed contingent consists of 41 personnel, among whom are nine medical officers.

The foreign ministries of Spain and Portugal confirmed that nine Portuguese nationals and two Spanish citizens lost their lives following the pair of major earthquakes in Venezuela, which have claimed at least 235 lives overall. Speaking to the radio station Cadena Ser, Spain's Minister for Territorial Policy, Angel Victor Torres, stated that 90 Spanish nationals remain missing, an increase from the 80 previously reported unaccounted for by the foreign ministry. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry of Portugal announced that 56 of its citizens are currently missing or untraceable. In a statement, the Spanish Foreign Ministry expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of two Spanish citizens, which were verified by their families, and offered condolences to their loved ones.

A picture of a father gripping the hand of his daughter who is wearing a fairy costume; a 24-year-old man looking proudly into the lens in his pilot's gear; a family hugging tight on a football pitch. These snapshots are being shared online by anxious relatives inside and outside Venezuela, who are frantically trying to locate their loved ones after Wednesday evening's consecutive, violent tremors. By Thursday night, the country's Health Minister Carlos Alvarado stated that the fatalities had reached approximately 235, while the injured numbered no fewer than 4,300. These figures are anticipated to increase following the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude shocks, which left a trail of destruction and rank among the most intense earthquakes to hit Venezuela in over a hundred years. As telecommunication networks remain unstable, digital platforms and unofficial databases have emerged as vital lifelines for citizens looking for news beyond the limited data provided by officials. In fact, non-governmental databases recording up to 40,000 missing persons greatly exceed the figures shared by official channels. While many citizens have scrambled to dig through the debris of fallen structures, others have taken to creating digital missing posters on WhatsApp, Facebook, and X to spread information about their family members.

On Friday, the United States military announced that a high-ranking American military officer had reached Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, to manage aid operations following the dual devastating earthquakes that claimed at least 235 lives. The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) posted on X that U.S. Marine Corps Major General Kevin J. Jarrard arrived in Caracas today to coordinate the War Department's contributions to the disaster response, designating him as the top SOUTHCOM authority on site. SOUTHCOM is collaborating with the State Department's relief efforts, with Jarrard leading their operations in the country. According to the statement on X, Venezuela's interim administration had officially asked for American assistance in the wake of the disaster. The update featured an image of Jarrard being received by two individuals, seemingly Venezuelan delegates, at an undisclosed venue.

Amparo del Giudice used her bare hands to claw through a massive pile of concrete chunks, looking for her son who was buried beneath the debris of Venezuela’s most violent earthquake since 1900. This is just one of countless personal tragedies occurring in northern Venezuela after consecutive earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck on Wednesday evening, leaving La Guaira as one of the hardest-hit zones. The death count reached 235 by Thursday evening, alongside nearly 4,300 injuries. Frustrated by the delay in state-led rescue operations as critical hours slipped away, Giudice desperately clawed at the stones. "There are too many heavy rocks, and we cannot do this with only our bare hands," she lamented, resting near the spot where her son is believed to be trapped. Her 23-year-old grandson, Alessandro, wore a volunteer firefighter's helmet as he joined the efforts to find his father. "My dad is down there," he wept, gazing at the ruins of the collapsed structure.

The Congress party on Friday expressed profound grief over the loss of lives in the twin earthquakes that have battered Venezuela, reaffirming that India is ready to extend humanitarian assistance and every form of support to Venezuelans confronting this catastrophe. The opposition party conveyed that the people of India stand in firm solidarity with the people of Venezuela during this hour of immense sorrow. Posting on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote, "On behalf of the Indian National Congress, I express our deepest grief and heartfelt condolences over the enormous loss of life and sweeping destruction wrought by the twin earthquakes that have struck Venezuela." "Our sincere sympathies are with the bereaved families and with every Venezuelan touched by this unimaginable tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost their loved ones, those still pinned under collapsed structures, the injured, and the innumerable rescue workers who are putting their own lives at risk to bring others to safety," the Congress chief said. Kharge also noted that India and Venezuela share a long tradition of warm and friendly bilateral ties, rooted in mutual respect, solidarity, and cooperation.

Spain's foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that two of its nationals have lost their lives and 80 remain missing following the two major earthquakes in Venezuela that have killed at least 235 people. "We deeply mourn the deaths of two Spanish citizens, as verified by their families, and we extend our condolences to them," the ministry said in an official statement, adding that the number of Spanish nationals currently unaccounted for stands at 80.

Across towns and cities in northern Venezuela, residents banded together on Thursday to sift through the wreckage of collapsed buildings in a desperate bid to locate family members and friends, after back-to-back earthquakes that officials say claimed more than 230 lives and left thousands injured the previous night. By late Thursday, the confirmed death toll had reached approximately 235, with at least 4,300 people reported injured, Venezuelan Health Minister Carlos Alvarado disclosed to state media. The figures are expected to climb further, with thousands of people still unaccounted for and rescue operations pressing on at full force. Survivors pulled from the rubble were coated in dust and blood, among them children and animals. Venezuelan state television broadcast harrowing footage of the ongoing recovery effort, including a scene in which a woman lay trapped under a heavy concrete slab with only a bare foot visible outside, before rescuers carefully slid her out alive. Beyond the capital Caracas, however, government-organized search crews were barely visible in the opening hours.

Here is a breakdown of what is known so far regarding the overseas nationals who died in the quakes: Two Brazilians Brazil's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday that two of its nationals — a man and a woman — perished in the disaster. The ministry said it is extending consular assistance to the families of the deceased. One Italian-Venezuelan Italy's foreign ministry said Thursday that a Caracas-born man of about 55 who held dual Italian and Venezuelan nationality was killed when a structure gave way in La Guaira, the area worst affected by the tremors. Rome estimates that around 170,000 holders of Italian passports are currently living in Venezuela. Two Chinese China's state news agency Xinhua, citing the Chinese embassy in Caracas, reported Thursday afternoon that two Chinese nationals have been confirmed dead in the disaster. The embassy's official WeChat account carried a notice urging Chinese nationals in Venezuela to guard against secondary hazards arising from aftershocks and further seismic events. One Portuguese Portugal's Foreign Ministry announced the first confirmed death of a Portuguese national in the disaster. A post on X from the ministry said the man was retrieved alive from the rubble but died before reaching a hospital. -AFP

UN-certified rescue teams will join the search for earthquake survivors, interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced in a televised address. Spain and France are each deploying dozens of trained specialists, and Germany has pledged six military cargo aircraft to the relief operation. Switzerland has activated 80 rescue personnel, eight trained search dogs and 18 tonnes of emergency equipment, all set for immediate dispatch to Venezuela. Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma unveiled a two-million-euro relief package that includes a dedicated search-and-rescue unit, and the Czech Republic confirmed its team was preparing to fly out. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) released an emergency grant of $2.5 million to support the country's recovery. Pope Leo XIV dispatched an initial emergency contribution of 100,000 euros (roughly $114,000) to Venezuela, the Vatican confirmed. The United States announced it would send two naval vessels, transport aircraft and helicopters, and mobilise $150 million in humanitarian assistance. China expressed readiness to provide whatever help it can in a manner suited to Venezuela's requirements, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun conveyed. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei declared Tehran's readiness to participate in relief and rescue operations as required. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced the deployment of a field hospital along with 36 firefighters and several rescue and communications specialists across two flights on Friday and Saturday. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country was sending military rescue teams and medical personnel to Venezuela and stood ready to provide further assistance if the situation demanded. Cuban health workers are already on the ground delivering medical services to affected communities, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stated. Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast confirmed he was dispatching humanitarian supplies and rescue units to assist Venezuela. Colombia, which also experienced the tremors, will send over 60 rescue workers and 12 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to its neighbour, the country's disaster management agency announced. Argentina, Costa Rica and Uruguay expressed their solidarity with Venezuela, while Ecuador and the Dominican Republic indicated they had already prepared aid packages for dispatch.

Rescue teams and anguished families across Venezuela are sifting through debris in a frantic effort to find survivors after the catastrophic earthquakes killed at least 188 people, leaving many still pinned beneath collapsed structures and large numbers of others wounded in La Guaira.