Venezuela earthquake rescue teams race against time in shattered La Guaira

Laguaira,UPDATED: Jun 28, 2026 23:30 IST

Rescue efforts in Venezuela grew more desperate on Sunday, four days after two powerful earthquakes hit the northern state of La Guaira, as local and international teams searched through the rubble for survivors. The government had reported more than 1,400 deaths by Saturday, while criticism mounted over what many Venezuelans described as an inadequate official response.

Thousands were still feared missing, according to virtual databases being used by families to report and trace loved ones. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said 33 people had been rescued on Saturday, but she did not give a revised death toll. On Sunday morning, a US rescue team from Virginia pulled a man and his son from the ruins and carried them on a black tarp to an ambulance as crowds gathered to watch.

Aid agencies say the first 48 to 72 hours after a natural disaster are crucial for finding people alive, though that window can be longer if those trapped have access to food and water. The UN said more than 2,200 rescue workers from around the world had arrived by Saturday, with more still reaching the country.

Messages of support continued to come in from across the world. Pope Leo offered prayers for "the eternal rest of the deceased" and said, "Likewise, I express my gratitude and encouragement to all those who are generously working in the search and rescue efforts."

Rodriguez said on state television on Saturday that more than 14,000 military and police personnel were patrolling La Guaira, where access has been blocked and special permits are needed to enter. But many people in the disaster zones said they had seen little sign of the government. The disaster has become a major test for Rodriguez, who took office in January after the US capture and removal of then-president Nicolas Maduro, at a time when Venezuela has already been dealing with prolonged economic disorder and political discontent.

Across the affected areas, scenes of grief and uncertainty continued. Some people climbed over the remains of buildings and shouted names, hoping for a sign of life. Dust covered coastal communities, and in the intense heat more people wore masks as the smell of decomposition spread. In another part of La Guaira, teams loaded bodies, some in white bags and others uncovered, onto white trucks from a dirt hospital car park where identification work was under way.

Rescuers and civilians searched through debris wearing motorcycle helmets instead of hard hats or other protective gear. In one area, people angry over the government's response stopped an excavator from leaving a collapse site and pulled the operator from the cabin after state workers allegedly took selfies in front of flattened buildings and left without helping.

The Organisation for Migration said more than 6 million people could be affected, including about 2 million in the capital, Caracas, alone. Experts said the scale of destruction was made worse by the quick succession of shallow quakes. Smaller aftershocks continued for days, shaking Caracas and other affected areas, including one measuring 4.8 on Saturday.

Foreign rescue and aid teams kept arriving from Mexico, the US, Brazil, El Salvador, France and other countries. On Saturday, Mexican rescue teams climbed over collapsed buildings and pushed their heads into gaps in crushed concrete as they searched for survivors, at times hearing movement. One rescuer shouted, "We're rescuers from the Mexican military, if there's anyone down there still alive, make noise or scream. Now!"

For many residents, the arrival of international teams searching the rubble alongside them brought a small sense of hope. Yonahi Regalado said she had been calling out the names of her sister and her one-year-old nephew and godson since 1 am the day after the earthquakes, until aid workers began arriving. "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 said, as helicopters circled overhead.

Moments of comfort were seen amid the devastation. In one video, a Venezuelan rescuer was seen speaking to an elderly woman trapped under rubble and frightened that the structure would collapse if she moved. "The roof won't cave in. If it falls, I'll be here with you," he told her.

Simon Bolivar Airport, which serves Caracas, was badly damaged, though one runway remained operational as US teams worked on repairs, Jeremy Lewin, a senior US State Department official overseeing foreign assistance, told reporters. He said a US Navy transport ship was stationed off the coast to receive survivors needing medical care and described the operation as a "race against the clock".

As rescue teams continued to search damaged buildings in La Guaira and beyond, the scale of the disaster remained stark, with more than 1,400 reported dead, thousands still unaccounted for and aid workers racing to find survivors in the narrowing window after the earthquakes.

With PTI Inputs

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