The humanitarian crisis in Venezuela has intensified following two powerful earthquakes, with casualties and destruction continuing to mount. According to the latest official figures, at least 1,430 people have been killed, while 3,238 others have been injured. Authorities also report that nearly 68,900 people remain missing, prompting an expansion of search-and-rescue operations.
Citing information from the president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, local authorities said many people are believed to be trapped beneath collapsed buildings, raising fears that the death toll could rise significantly in the coming days.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that approximately 6.76 million people may have been affected by the disaster. Of those, nearly 2 million residents of the capital, Caracas, are believed to have experienced the impact of the earthquakes.
The IOM said comprehensive damage assessments are still underway. However, preliminary analysis of satellite imagery indicates that around 31.5 percent of buildings in the worst-hit coastal city of Catia La Mar have been damaged, leaving thousands homeless and in urgent need of emergency shelter.
IOM Director General Amy Pope said the first hours and days following a major disaster are the most critical, as rapid and coordinated action lays the foundation for effective rescue efforts, humanitarian assistance, and long-term recovery.
She added that emergency relief supplies pre-positioned in Caracas have already been dispatched to the affected areas. The IOM is working closely with the Venezuelan government and international partners to provide emergency shelter, essential relief items, and protection services, while warning that large-scale displacement is likely.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the twin earthquakes struck on Wednesday just 39 seconds apart, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. The 7.5-magnitude quake was centered about 23 kilometers southeast of Yumare in Yaracuy State, while the 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck approximately 23.9 kilometers northeast of San Felipe, also in Yaracuy.
The United Nations has warned that Venezuela’s humanitarian situation could deteriorate further in the days ahead and called on the international community to respond swiftly with coordinated, life-saving assistance.
Sources: International Organization for Migration (IOM); U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).