Four days after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela's northern state of La Guaira, rescue teams continued racing against the clock Sunday to pull survivors from the rubble as the government reported 1,450 dead and thousands remained missing. More than 2,200 international rescue workers had arrived by Saturday, according to the United Nations, with crews from Mexico, the U.S., Brazil, El Salvador, France and elsewhere joining local efforts.
The disaster presents a significant test for President Rodríguez, who took office in January following the U.S.-backed capture and removal of former President Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela has faced economic turmoil for more than a decade, and many residents questioned whether government response was adequate compared to civilian-led rescue operations that emerged in the quake's immediate aftermath.
What the Left Is Saying
Critics of the Rodríguez administration said they had seen little coordinated federal presence in the disaster zone during the first days of the crisis. Some frustrated residents blocked an excavator from leaving a collapse site after state workers took selfies in front of flattened buildings and departed without helping, witnesses told The Associated Press. Family members searching for loved ones expressed frustration at what they described as a slow official response.
Yonahí Regalado was calling out names of her sister, 1-year-old nephew and godson starting at 1 a.m. the day after the quakes before aid workers arrived in force. "It doesn't matter who it is, whoever, whether it's family or somebody else. If there is anyone alive, let's get them out," she told AP.
Jason Mercano, a civilian who communicated with family members still buried under rubble via social media, described the effort as difficult but necessary. "We've never given up hope," he said. Aid agencies have noted that while the first 48 to 72 hours after a disaster are considered crucial for finding survivors alive, access to food and water can extend that window.
What the Right Is Saying
Government officials pointed to substantial mobilization in response to the crisis. President Rodríguez said on state television Saturday that more than 14,000 members of the military and police were patrolling La Guaira state, where access was now restricted and special permits were required for entry. The government also reported Sunday that more than 770 buildings had totally or partially collapsed—double the number reported destroyed or damaged two days prior.
Senior State Department official Jeremy Lewin told reporters that U.S. teams were working to repair Simón Bolívar International Airport's runways, noting the facility serving Caracas was badly damaged but one runway had become operational. Rescue workers from the United States and France pulled a man and his son from the ruins Sunday morning, carrying them on stretchers as crowds gathered to watch.
The Rodríguez administration highlighted international coordination efforts, with foreign rescue teams arriving alongside Venezuelan military personnel. "It's been incredibly hard work, but we're going strong," said one official statement, emphasizing that search operations remained active despite diminishing odds of finding additional survivors.
What the Numbers Show
According to government figures released Sunday afternoon: 1,450 dead; more than 770 buildings totally or partially collapsed; over 14,000 military and police personnel deployed in La Guaira state alone. The United Nations reported more than 2,200 international rescue workers had arrived by Saturday, with additional teams still arriving. The International Organization for Migration estimates over 6 million people could be affected overall, including approximately 2 million in the capital Caracas.
The quakes struck as a quick succession of shallow tremors, which experts said amplified destruction. Aftershocks continued shaking the region, including one measuring 4.8 magnitude on Saturday. Rescue operations faced additional challenges from punishing heat and the spread of decomposition odors in heavily damaged areas.
The Bottom Line
The earthquakes represent the first major disaster test for Rodríguez's administration since taking office following Maduro's removal earlier this year. With the death toll continuing to rise and thousands still unaccounted for, the government faces ongoing pressure over response effectiveness while international aid continues flowing into the country. What happens next will likely shape both Venezuela's recovery trajectory and perceptions of the new administration's capacity to govern during crisis. Aid agencies warn that even as the likelihood of finding survivors diminishes with each passing hour, rescue operations are expected to continue for days to come.