A nightmarish blow of nature comes to test her endurance at her most critical turning point.
that leveled Caracas, they not only caused an incalculable humanitarian disaster with thousands of victims. They hit a country with an already crumbling infrastructure, forcing it to open its doors to international aid and bring the US into the rescue role amid a fragile political transition.
The death toll from the two earthquakes increased to about 235whereas the injured amount to 4,300, according to the country’s health minister.
A website created to locate missing persons and shared by opposition leaders registered more than 46,000 people as missing shortly after 7 p.m.
It is highly likely that the death toll will rise further. The USGS, based on a number of factors, including previous similar earthquakes and the size of the area’s population, estimated there was a 42% chance the deaths would exceed 10,000 and a 33% chance they would exceed 100,000. Venezuela sits atop the meeting point of two tectonic plates, and the earthquakes were likely caused by the sudden release of accumulated friction between them.
Building swings like a ragdoll during 7.5 earthquake in Caracas Venezuela.
— B. Wilkins lll 🇺🇸 (@ScummyMummy511)
“We didn’t have time to get off”
The president of the Greek Community of Caracas, Thodoris Marangelis, spoke today 26/6 on “Society Mega Hour” and described, once again, what happened after the twin tremors.
“The news is not pleasant. In Hellenism, we have no issues, minor damage to our homes,” said Mr. Marangelis, describing where the earthquakes found him. “I was at home, it was a national holiday and we were out of our routine. I said it will pass. As the seconds passed he grew more intense. My wife started screaming. I had to hold on to the curtains. he said.
He estimates that as the days pass the number of dead will rise and things will get worse. “The missing are very many, thousands of people. As the days go by things will get worse. It was historic, there had been an intense earthquake since 1967. In Caracas, many houses fell, apartment buildings also fell,” he pointed out.
Lekkas: The earthquake is equivalent to 180 Hiroshima bombs
The professor and president of OASP Efthymios Lekkas underlined in his interview with ERT yesterday that the energy released by the earthquakes was “enormous”. In fact, as he pointed out, the second 7.5 Richter earthquake in Venezuela corresponds to 2 million tons of dynamite or 180 Hiroshima atomic bombs.
He explained that the two major earthquakes “complemented each other” in terms of damage. The former caused damage to small buildings, while the latter hit tall and large buildings, creating a wide range of damage.
The professor concluded that the next few days will be crucial for the scientific assessment of the damage and the mechanisms that were activated.
Does Venezuela look like the Mediterranean?
When asked if the Venezuelan region is seismically similar to the Mediterranean, the professor argued that it is a completely different geotectonic environment, where the lithospheric plates of North and South America collide.
The faults there are “an order of magnitude larger” than those in Greece, while magnitude 7 earthquakes are common. He also made special reference to the built fabric of Venezuela, which consists of old buildings, constructions without earthquake regulations and newer buildings in which “it is doubtful whether the earthquake regulations are applied in practice”. This, combined with phenomena such as the retreat of the sea, liquefaction and large faults running under densely populated valleys, put together what he called the “puzzle of disaster”.
The US military in Venezuela
The United States Southern Command (SouthCom), which oversees US military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, said it is “contingently mobilizing available forces” of the US to the region to support post-earthquake relief operations in Venezuela, according to a statement posted on X on Thursday.
SouthCom has directed “significant forces to this effort, including the amphibious transport ship USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) and the littoral operations ship USS Billings (LCS 15),” the statement said. C-17 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, along with reconnaissance platforms and helicopters will also assist in the efforts.
The US will provide $150 million in aid, also deploying specialized rescue teams, medical resources and humanitarian aid to Venezuela.
“Today I lived one of the ugliest episodes of my life, where I was between life and death, I only have to thank God for protecting me where I was able to help someone survive, where I lost everything material but I will rise stronger this time, if God is with me who…
— Cristian Crespo F. 🇨🇺 (@cristiancrespoj)
Battle under the ruins
Rescuers are searching the ruins in a constant race against time to save lives after two powerful earthquakes leveled many buildings.
In Caracas and the nearby coastal city of La Guaira, people could be heard calling for help under the rubble of destroyed buildings.
🚨 HEARTBREAKING MIRACLE IN VENEZUELA
A child, pulled ALIVE from the rubble after the devastating 7.5 quake… covered in dust but breathing.
In the middle of total destruction in Catia La Mar, this is the hope we needed.
Pray for the missing. Pray for the families.…
— Amar Singh Chouhan (@amar_4inc)
In La Guaira, residents and volunteers are even digging by hand, as they do not have basic equipment, trying to locate relatives or neighbors under tons of concrete.
There are also moments when the rescuers retrieve the dead next to the injured.
A dramatic rescue as a woman is pulled alive from the rubble after a devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Venezuela
— Surajit (@surajit_ghosh2)
Difficult to access information
Venezuela’s nearly two-year ban on X has been partially lifted, according to VE sin Filtro, a Venezuelan internet freedom watchdog.
Although all major Internet service providers have restored access to the site, some users are unable to upload images or videos to the platform because not all domains used by X have been unblocked, the organization said.
Venezuela has one of the most limited information landscapes in the world, making it difficult for residents or relatives abroad trying to learn about earthquake damage or casualties.
More than 200 websites in the country are blocked, including domestic and international news, social media and censorship bypass tools such as VPNs, according to a June 25 update by VE sin Filtro.
The partial lifting of X’s ban comes after the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela called on authorities to “fully restore access to social networks and all media”.
“In the coming hours and days, timely access to reliable information and communication channels will be vital to protect the lives, safety and well-being of the population,” the UN statement said.
UNICEF: Thousands of children in danger in Venezuela
UNICEF has warned that thousands of children are at risk in Venezuela after two earthquakes hit the country. About 3.9 million children live in the areas affected by the earthquakes and many families need urgent help, it said.
“The images we are seeing from Venezuela and the stories we are hearing from colleagues in the field are heartbreaking,” said UNICEF Executive Director Kathryn Russell. “As the scale of the disaster becomes clearer, the safety, protection and well-being of children must remain at the heart of the response.”
UNICEF warned that in the coming hours and days, children will be among the most vulnerable, as they face the risk of “trauma, family separation, displacement, mental anguish, as well as disruption of essential services, including health care, safe water, education and protection”.
In La Guaira, acting president Delcy Rodríguez
Delcy Rodríguez visited the state of La Guaira on Thursday, . Rodriguez led a meeting with officials in the city to assess the situation, stressing that the priority “is focused on speeding up operational decisions to preserve the lives of the population and provide assistance to the affected families.”
The meeting was also attended by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabejo, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez and military commanders. “As part of the multi-sectoral emergency plan, authorities have ordered the mobilization of heavy machinery and the priority distribution of basic supplies such as drinking water, food, mattresses and blankets to those affected. Rescue, risk management and social assistance teams remain deployed in the field under a unified coordination scheme to ensure the protection of the citizens of La Guaira during this emergency,” the statement said.
In La Guaira, residents and volunteers are even digging by hand, as they do not have basic equipment, trying to locate relatives or neighbors under tons of concrete. There are also moments when the rescuers retrieve the dead next to the injured.
Diplomatic extensions in the midst of crisis
The disaster is the first test of Venezuela’s new relationship with the US since President Donald Trump ordered the arrest of (former) President Nicolas Maduro in January.
Trump said he had instructed his administration “to be ready to move quickly.” “The two major earthquakes that have just struck the great people of Venezuela are massive in scale and have left behind a devastating death toll,” he wrote on Truth Social, adding that the US “stands ready, willing and able to help!”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was “immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources and humanitarian assistance.”
The Trump administration has sought to reshape relations with Venezuela after Maduro’s ouster, and early on backed his former deputy leader, Delsy Rodriguez.
