Death toll from the earthquakes in Venezuela rises to 235... a race against time to rescue those trapped

SadaNews - The death toll from the two earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday has risen to 235, according to Health Minister Carlos Alvarado, while the government is working with private companies to bring heavy equipment to expedite rescue operations.

On Thursday night - Friday, Alvarado stated in a statement to state television, "Unfortunately, we received about 235 people who arrived without vital signs or died upon arrival at our health facilities." The previous toll was 188 dead.

Jorge Rodriguez, President of the National Assembly and brother of Delcy Rodriguez, the acting president in Venezuela, stated that no less than 250 buildings have been damaged or destroyed. Among the buildings reported to have suffered significant damage are at least eight hospitals, the headquarters of the Venezuelan Red Cross, and the French embassy. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said that around 70,000 families in La Guaira state have been affected by the disaster.

* Disaster Area

La Guaira, the coastal state adjacent to Caracas, where the main airport of the capital is located, has become one of the most affected areas. Rodriguez said, "It has become a disaster area," adding that the government is working with private companies to bring heavy equipment and expedite rescue operations. Electricity has been scarce in parts of the state, and the Caracas airport has been closed after being damaged. Emergency workers and volunteers continued to search through the rubble of collapsed buildings until late at night. However, in some areas, residents reported that government assistance has been delayed in arriving.

Yamilith Jimenez, a resident of La Guaira, stated that her 19-year-old son is still trapped under the rubble of a seven-story residential building.

Jimenez, whose father died three days ago, added, "He is under the concrete slabs and there are no machines to get him out."

Many Venezuelans were at home when the earthquakes struck during a public holiday. Residents rushed out of the swaying buildings into the streets. Near the epicenter of the earthquake in Morón, a coastal town in Carabobo state, homes collapsed, and residents were left without water or electricity.

The U.S. Geological Survey warned that the death toll could reach thousands, with a strong likelihood of exceeding 10,000, based on models estimating the figures.

A website created to track the missing, shared by opposition leaders in the country, listed over 46,000 people as missing after 7 PM local time (2300 GMT).

Countries from around the world have pledged support, including nations that opposed Venezuela, which has suffered for decades from international isolation amidst a spiral of political repression, economic collapse, and diplomatic pressure.

Rodriguez anticipated the arrival of international rescue teams soon and thanked leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Washington has taken steps to ease sanctions, allowing transactions related to earthquake aid that would otherwise have been prohibited.

Tom Fletcher, the United Nations relief coordinator, stated that the organization is coordinating the efforts of international rescue teams and that it will require "a monumental collective effort" in a country where eight million people needed humanitarian assistance before the earthquakes occurred.

Starlink announced it will provide free service until July 25 for new and existing customers in affected areas and is working on deploying stations in the most affected regions to help restore communications. In the oil sector, foreign energy companies stated that their operations did not experience major disruptions, and the oil infrastructure appeared to have largely survived.