By The Sun Post News Staff
CARACAS, Venezuela— Venezuela is experiencing profound national mourning after the powerful earthquake that struck the country left a death toll that continues to rise as rescue efforts continue.
Venezuelan authorities reported this Thursday that at least 164 people have lost their lives, while 971 were injured. These figures remain preliminary as dozens of emergency teams continue searching for survivors among collapsed buildings.
The tragedy began when two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, struck northern Venezuela just 39 seconds apart, becoming one of the most destructive seismic events recorded in Venezuela in over a century.
La Guaira and Caracas, the Hardest-Hit Cities
The greatest damage is concentrated in La Guaira, a coastal state near Caracas, considered by authorities to be the region most affected by the emergency.
Residential buildings, offices, hospitals, and businesses partially or completely collapsed. Dozens of people remain missing, and thousands of families have had to abandon their homes for fear of aftershocks.
In Caracas, images broadcast by international media show streets covered in debris, crushed vehicles, buildings with severe cracks, and rescue teams working tirelessly to locate people trapped under tons of concrete.
A Race Against Time
Every hour is crucial in finding survivors.
Firefighters, Civil Protection, volunteers, military personnel, and international organizations are working using heavy machinery, trained dogs, and specialized equipment to detect signs of life among the collapsed buildings.
In several rescues, people have been pulled alive after being trapped for hours, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the tragedy. However, authorities acknowledge that the chances of recovery diminish as time passes.
Nearly a thousand injured overwhelm hospitals
Hospitals in Caracas, La Guaira, and other affected cities are operating at maximum capacity.
The 971 injured suffer fractures, trauma, crush injuries, and wounds caused by falling structures.
Medical personnel have had to improvise treatment areas due to the high number of patients, while ambulances continue to arrive with new injured people from different parts of the disaster zone.
Thousands of families lost everything
Although the official number of victims is still being assessed, authorities estimate that thousands of families were left homeless after the collapse of buildings and houses.
Many people spent the night in plazas, parks, and open streets, afraid to return to their homes due to the constant aftershocks that continue to shake the country.
Electricity and drinking water services are also experiencing interruptions in several affected communities.
Aftershocks Continue
Experts report that approximately 30 aftershocks have been recorded, some strong enough to cause further damage to previously weakened structures.
Authorities maintain their recommendation to avoid entering buildings with visible cracks and to remain attentive to further instructions from Civil Protection.
International Aid Begins to Arrive
Several governments and international organizations have announced the dispatch of humanitarian aid.
The United States reported that it is mobilizing search and rescue teams, medical assistance, and humanitarian aid to support emergency operations, while other Latin American and European countries have also expressed their willingness to collaborate with Venezuela.
The Fear Is the Death Toll Rising
Authorities acknowledge that the number of fatalities could increase considerably in the coming hours.
Numerous buildings have not yet been fully inspected, and reports of missing persons continue.
For its part, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a maximum severity assessment, indicating a high probability that the disaster will have very severe human and economic consequences due to the magnitude of the event and the vulnerability of many structures.
A country united by grief
Messages of solidarity continue to arrive for the Venezuelan people from different corners of the world.
In Florida, home to one of the largest Venezuelan communities in the United States, community organizations have begun support campaigns for the affected families.
As rescuers continue to clear tons of rubble in the hope of finding survivors, Venezuela faces one of the most difficult moments in its recent history.
Today, there is only one priority: saving lives.
