Venezuelan authorities said 920 were confirmed dead and 3.360 were injured. The coastal state of La Guaira – hardest hit by the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes – has been placed under military control to facilitate search and rescue operations and the distribution of food and water.
According to Venezuelan officials, hundreds of people have been buried under rubble after buildings completely collapsed. Rescue efforts remain severely hampered by a shortage of specialized personnel and heavy equipment, and Caracas' main international airport, La Guaira, remains closed due to serious damage, affecting the delivery of aid.
The international community is increasing its support for Venezuela. Rescue teams from El Salvador, Mexico, Switzerland, Spain, Chile, Germany, and many other countries have arrived or are en route to the scene. The United States has deployed a large-scale relief operation with warships, transport planes, helicopters, and has pledged 150 million USD in aid.
The two earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening were the strongest since 1900, with tremors felt in Colombia and parts of northern Brazil.
