Death Toll from Venezuela Earthquakes Rises to 235

Venezuela’s health minister, Carlos Alvarado, said Thursday evening that the death toll from two powerful earthquakes has climbed to about 235. More than 4,300 people were injured, many of them severely, and numerous patients needed urgent surgery shortly after arriving at hospitals.

One of the quakes was described as the strongest to hit the country in more than 100 years. It left a wide path of destruction in Caracas, the port city of La Guaira, and nearby communities. Rescue teams are still searching through collapsed buildings for survivors, with officials warning the number of dead could rise further.

The damage has been especially severe in apartment buildings that collapsed in a “pancake” pattern, with floors stacked one on top of another, making rescues far more difficult and reducing the chances of survival. Many residents whose homes were destroyed are sleeping in the streets because of fear of aftershocks, while Venezuelans abroad are trying to reach relatives in the disaster zones.

The international response has accelerated, with the United States leading logistical support. U.S. Southern Command sent special forces, amphibious transport ships, C-17 cargo planes and rescue helicopters, while Washington also announced $150 million in humanitarian aid and elite rescue teams to bolster Venezuela’s limited medical capacity. At the same time, access to X was partially restored after two years of government restrictions, following a UN appeal to allow the flow of information.