With a provisional death toll of 164 and nearly 1,000 injured, the authorities' top priority is to make use of every minute of sunlight to save lives in the hardest-hit areas in the central and northern regions of the country.
The acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, has declared the state of La Guaira as a "disaster zone". In this coastal region, where the impact was particularly severe with dozens of collapsed buildings, rescue teams from all parts of the country have been concentrated. The operations are being described as "very arduous"; rescuers are using electric tools to make their way through piles of rubble in places where homes and offices once stood. Amid the tragedy, the state television station broadcasted images of three children rescued alive, covered in dust but safe, after being extracted from the ruins in La Guaira.
The logistical challenge for these search operations is immense. The Simón Bolívar International Airport remains closed after suffering cracks in its runways, making it difficult for flights carrying critical supplies to arrive. Due to the gravity of the situation, the government has requested private companies to provide heavy construction machinery to expedite the debris removal. Additionally, the arrival of search and rescue teams certified by the United Nations is expected to bolster local capacities.
International solidarity has been swift. The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, confirmed the immediate deployment of medical resources and specialized teams, while nations like Qatar, Mexico, and El Salvador have already sent rescue personnel to the field. Meanwhile, in cities like Caracas, hundreds of people who have lost their homes or fear aftershocks remain on the streets, using social media to try to locate missing family members amidst mobile coverage failures and basic service disruptions.