Venezuela’s coastal city of Catia La Mar is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis following two powerful earthquakes that struck in quick succession. Numerous people remain trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed apartment buildings and homes, while widespread power outages and slow-moving rescue efforts have intensified the suffering of affected communities.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said the confirmed death toll has risen to 188, with at least 971 people injured. Officials warned that the number of casualties could increase further as search-and-rescue operations continue.
Residents have voiced frustration over what they describe as an inadequate emergency response, claiming that even 12 hours after the earthquakes, many affected neighborhoods had yet to receive sufficient rescue personnel or heavy equipment. As a result, relatives have been attempting to clear debris by hand in desperate efforts to reach those trapped beneath the ruins.
Larry Rojas, a 49-year-old resident, said several members of his family remain trapped under a collapsed building. He explained that he lacks both the equipment and physical capacity needed to rescue them on his own. Similar accounts have been shared by many other residents.
One woman said her daughter is trapped beneath a 12-story residential building, adding that no rescue team had reached the site despite hours of waiting. Such accounts have fueled growing anger and despair among families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the first magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck at 6:04 p.m. on Wednesday. Just 40 seconds later, a second magnitude 7.5 quake shook Catia La Mar and surrounding areas, causing further devastation.
Seismologists say the two powerful earthquakes occurring within such a short interval significantly amplified structural damage, leading to widespread building collapses and severe damage to roads and critical infrastructure. Power outages and blocked access routes have further complicated rescue operations.
Authorities said additional search-and-rescue teams have been deployed to the affected areas. However, the scale of the destruction and the vast amount of debris have made rescue efforts both difficult and time-consuming.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and international news agencies.