Summary
- Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced that 10 more countries would join the rescue mission and that 14,000 military and police personnel were deployed in La Guaira to patrol and carry out sanitary measures.
- Power outages persisted near the epicenter in Moron and across La Guaira, though Rodriguez said 60 percent of electricity had been restored elsewhere.
- Rescue teams from several countries are already working in La Guaira.
Venezuela said on Saturday that 1,600 foreign rescuers had arrived to help search for survivors of the twin earthquakes that killed more than 900 people this week, as authorities tightened access to the worst-hit areas.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced that 10 more countries would join the rescue mission and that 14,000 military and police personnel were deployed in La Guaira to patrol and carry out sanitary measures. “In recent hours, Venezuela has received 17 flights carrying more than 1,600 members of rescue teams, and over the next 24 hours, the arrival of 25 additional flights is expected,” foreign ministry official Oliver Blanco said. He thanked the international community for its solidarity in a post on X.
La Guaira, a coastal state popular with tourists, has seen widespread destruction, with at least 100 buildings damaged or destroyed. Residents and volunteers have complained about shortages of heavy equipment and limited official presence. Many families continued to dig through rubble with their hands in search of missing relatives.
Authorities closed the main road between La Guaira and Caracas on Friday evening, citing heavy traffic that blocked emergency vehicles. Civilians not part of official rescue teams now require credentials to pass roadblocks. Witnesses reported that police prevented journalists from using the main road on Saturday morning, while traffic clogged an older secondary route.
Despite earlier praise for civilians who delivered aid by motorcycle, the government has now restricted access. State television showed images of thousands of pairs of shoes, clothing and other supplies collected by officials. Power outages persisted near the epicenter in Moron and across La Guaira, though Rodriguez said 60 percent of electricity had been restored elsewhere. Venezuela’s power grid, weakened by years of underinvestment and sanctions, continues to suffer daily blackouts.
The scale of the disaster remains unclear. While the government reported hundreds missing, an opposition-backed website listed more than 54,000 people as unaccounted for. The US Geological Survey estimated that more than 10,000 deaths were possible from the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes. The United Nations said nearly seven million people could be affected, with direct damage estimated at $6.7 billion.
Rodriguez, who assumed interim leadership after Nicolas Maduro was arrested by US forces in January, spoke with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday. She also met with US military officials and disaster experts. Washington pledged $150 million in aid, announced sanctions relief, and dispatched two ships along with helicopters and aircraft to support rescue operations.
Rescue teams from several countries are already working in La Guaira. El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele reported multiple rescues on his X account, including that of a 15-year-old girl. However, witnesses described looting at several sites in the state.
Oil Minister Paula Henao said Venezuela’s oil production was not affected by the earthquakes and fuel distribution would continue.
