Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Exceeds 1,400 as U.S. Rescue Teams Join Desperate Search for Thousands Missing

CARACAS, Venezuela – Five days after twin earthquakes devastated large parts of Venezuela, rescue teams continue their desperate search for survivors, digging through rubble with heavy machinery and even their bare hands. The official death toll has surpassed 1,400, and tens of thousands of people remain unaccounted for, with fears mounting that the number will rise sharply.

The first quake, registering a magnitude of 6.8, struck in the early hours of Thursday, followed hours later by a powerful 7.2 aftershock that compounded the destruction. The epicentres were located near the coastal state of Miranda, just east of the capital Caracas, but the tremors were felt as far west as the Colombian border and as far east as Trinidad and Tobago.

"We Need More Support"

Amid the tragedy, there have been moments of hope. A U.S. search team successfully rescued a mother and her 9-month-old baby from the debris of a collapsed building – a rare bright spot in a disaster that has brought overwhelming grief to countless families.

"Against impossible odds, hope endures," the U.S. State Department wrote in a social media post. "Every life saved is a victory."

On Saturday, 11-year-old Kenger was pulled from the wreckage of the building where he had lived with his mother and two siblings. His aunt, Keyla Zerpa, told CBS News that her sister and both of Kenger's siblings perished in the collapse. Kenger was the sole survivor from his family.

"We need more support, more help," Zerpa said, directing her plea to the United States.

U.S. Rescue Teams on the Ground

U.S. diplomat John Barrett confirmed that more than 300 American rescuers are currently operating in Venezuela, coordinating with local authorities and international relief organisations.

"We were with Venezuela before the earthquake, and we're even closer to Venezuela after the earthquake," Barrett said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced last week that he had spoken with Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodríguez and offered the full assistance of the United States. The U.S. has pledged $5 million in emergency aid, with additional support expected as the scale of the disaster becomes clearer.

Desperate Scenes Outside Hospitals

In Caracas, grief-stricken families have gathered outside overwhelmed hospitals, clutching handwritten lists of missing relatives and pleading with staff for any information. The facilities, already strained by years of economic crisis, are struggling to cope with the influx of injured survivors and the steady stream of bodies.

One family member, Genesis Fonseca, arrived at a Caracas hospital with a pot of soup for her 6‑year‑old nephew. The boy miraculously survived the quake, but his mother did not. Fonseca spoke quietly of the family's loss, saying, "We are grateful he is alive, but we cannot understand why she was taken."

Thousands Still Missing

Authorities have confirmed that more than 1,400 people have died, but the true scale of the disaster remains unclear. The government has reported that at least 12,000 people are injured, while an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 individuals are still listed as missing – many of them believed to be trapped under debris or buried in mudslides triggered by the quakes.

The hardest-hit areas include the coastal towns of La Guaira and Maiquetía, where entire neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble. In some remote mountain communities, landslides have cut off road access, making it impossible for rescue teams to reach survivors without air support.

"The situation is catastrophic," said María Corina Machado, a local civil defence coordinator. "We have not seen destruction on this scale in Venezuela for decades. We are running out of time to find people alive."

International Aid Begins to Arrive

International relief efforts have begun to mobilise, though bureaucratic delays have slowed the flow of aid. The United Nations has dispatched emergency supplies, including food, water, and medical kits, while neighbouring Colombia and Brazil have offered search-and-rescue teams and sniffer dogs.

The Venezuelan government has called for international solidarity, urging all nations to set aside political differences in the face of a humanitarian tragedy.

Critical Infrastructure Crippled

Beyond the immediate loss of life, the earthquakes have crippled critical infrastructure. Power outages affect large swaths of the country, and water systems have been severely damaged, raising concerns about the spread of waterborne diseases. Hospitals are running low on essential medicines and surgical supplies, and many are operating on backup generators that are running low on fuel.

Telecommunications have also been severely disrupted, hampering coordination between rescue teams and central authorities. In some areas, residents have resorted to using satellite phones and amateur radio to communicate with the outside world.

Expert Assessment

"This is a worst-case scenario for a country already in the throes of a deep economic and social crisis," said Dr. Carlos López, a seismologist at the Central University of Venezuela. "The combination of two major quakes in such a short period has weakened structures that were already fragile due to years of neglect. The rescue effort will take weeks, and the rebuilding will take years."

Dr. López also noted that aftershocks continue to rattle the region, further endangering rescue workers and complicating the search for survivors.

A Nation in Mourning

As the search continues, Venezuela has declared three days of national mourning. Flags are flying at half‑mast, and public gatherings have been cancelled. President Nicolás Maduro has visited several affected areas, promising that the government will do everything possible to support victims and rebuild damaged infrastructure.

However, critics have accused the government of failing to prepare adequately for such disasters, pointing to a decade of underinvestment in infrastructure and disaster preparedness.

For families like Keyla Zerpa's, the immediate focus remains on survival – and on the hope that more rescue teams and resources will arrive before time runs out.