Venezuela has declared seven days of national mourning after the death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes climbed to 2,295, while hopes of finding more survivors beneath the rubble continue to fade. Rescue teams remain on the ground, but officials say the chances of locating people alive are becoming increasingly slim as more than a week has passed since the disaster. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced the period of mourning, describing the tragedy as a devastating blow to the nation. In the hardest-hit city of La Guaira, north of Caracas, many collapsed buildings have been marked to indicate that no survivors were found during search operations.
Spanish rescue coordinator Javier Rodes said efforts are being focused on areas where there is still a realistic possibility of finding survivors, adding that trained search dogs have detected no signs of life in several locations. Despite the grim outlook, rescuers managed to pull a three-year-old child alive from the debris six days after the earthquakes, offering a rare moment of hope. Experts say the likelihood of survival drops sharply after the first 72 hours following a major earthquake. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said nearly 13,000 people have been left homeless by the disaster. The powerful magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes caused widespread destruction across the oil-rich country, further straining infrastructure and public services already weakened by years of economic hardship. Although international rescue teams have joined relief efforts, many residents say government assistance has been insufficient.
Food and clean water shortages have emerged as urgent concerns, with long queues at aid distribution points and reports of unrest over relief supplies. Authorities have also arrested four police officers accused of stealing valuables from collapsed buildings. The International Organization for Migration described the humanitarian situation as critical, while many survivors are relying on volunteers and local community support. The World Food Programme has appealed for $50 million to provide emergency food assistance to 500,000 people over the next three months. The World Health Organization has also warned of an increased risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles and diphtheria, as the country’s healthcare system struggles to cope with the crisis. Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency has requested $14.9 million to provide emergency shelter and assistance to 30,000 people over the next six months.
Preliminary satellite analysis by NASA indicates that about 58,870 buildings were damaged or destroyed in the earthquakes. Families continue searching through the rubble for missing relatives, hoping that even if survivors cannot be found, they can at least recover the bodies of their loved ones for a dignified burial.
