Venezuela raises earthquake death toll to 920 as rescues continue against the clock

The number of victims from the double earthquake in Venezuela continues to grow. The country's authorities have raised the number of at least 920 dead and more than 3,000 injured after the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck the north of the country, especially Caracas and the state of La Guaira, the area most affected by the collapses.

Emergency teams have been working for more than 48 hours among collapsed buildings, blocked streets, and neighborhoods without basic services. The Venezuelan Government has reported thousands of affected families, hundreds of damaged structures, and dozens of hospitals with damage. In La Guaira, neighbors and relatives continue to help remove rubble while waiting for the arrival of heavy machinery.

As hours pass, rescue efforts become more complicated. Venezuelan authorities had already reported more than 200 people trapped in different parts of the country, although the figures continue to change as teams access new areas. There have also been power outages, mobile phone problems, damage to water and gas pipes, and restrictions on key infrastructure such as Maiquetía airport.

International aid is beginning to arrive at ground zero. 17 countries and the United Nations have mobilized search and urban rescue teams, medical assistance, and humanitarian material. Spain, the United States, Mexico, Italy, Colombia, Chile, Switzerland, and other countries are part of the deployment that is already working or heading towards Venezuela. The immediate priority is to locate survivors, attend to the injured, and set up shelters for those who have lost their homes.

Five Spaniards dead and 119 unaccounted for

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed five Spaniards dead, 119 unaccounted for, and 14 Spanish citizens trapped under the rubble. Among the victims is Isabel Jara, the delegate of the Government of the Canary Islands in Venezuela, who died after the collapse of the building where she resided in La Guaira.

Spain has sent personnel from the Military Emergency Unit (UME), firefighters from ERICAM, paramedics, canine units, and personnel from the AECID. The Spanish teams are heading to La Guaira to join the search efforts. Foreign Affairs has also repatriated 59 Spaniards from Venezuela, along with 11 Portuguese and one Bulgarian citizen, on a military plane that has already arrived in the Dominican Republic.

The Spanish Government keeps consular emergency lines open and asks Spanish residents or those passing through Venezuela to contact the Embassy or Consulate. The Spanish community in the country numbers in the tens of thousands, with a particularly strong presence of Canarians and descendants of Spanish emigrants.