The death toll from Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes has climbed to nearly 3,000, according to official figures released on Saturday, as rescue teams from around the world begin scaling back search operations after more than a week of intensive efforts.
Authorities confirmed that the number of fatalities has risen to 2,954, an increase of more than 300 since Friday. The powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck on June 24, leaving widespread destruction, thousands injured, and countless families without homes.
Read more: Venezuela Earthquakes Kill Nearly 1,500, Millions Need Aid
The coastal region of La Guaira, located north of Caracas, suffered some of the worst damage. Entire residential buildings collapsed, trapping residents beneath the rubble and turning neighborhoods into disaster zones. Thousands of people remain unaccounted for, while many survivors continue living in temporary shelters and emergency camps.
Ten days after the disaster, the likelihood of finding additional survivors has diminished significantly. Although a small number of people were rescued alive earlier this week, experts note that the highest chances of survival after major earthquakes are typically within the first 72 hours.
As rescue efforts gradually conclude, interim President Delcy Rodríguez honored international search-and-rescue teams during a ceremony, recognizing emergency personnel and search dogs for their contributions. She described the tragedy as a period of profound national grief, with many families still hoping for news of missing loved ones while others mourn devastating losses.
Several international rescue teams, including units from the United States and South America, have begun ending their missions after completing extensive searches. Officials from rescue teams in Los Angeles County, Florida, and Virginia said their latest operations found no further signs of life, prompting preparations to return home.
Meanwhile, frustration has grown among many Venezuelans, who argue that the government’s response was too slow in the critical hours after the earthquakes. Some residents said they were forced to dig through collapsed buildings themselves before organized rescue teams arrived. The government has rejected the criticism, stating that thousands of military personnel and emergency workers were deployed immediately.
Heavy machinery is now being used to clear unsafe structures, while volunteers continue searching for victims trapped beneath the debris. More than 16,000 people have lost their homes, hospitals remain overwhelmed, and health experts have warned about the growing risk of disease outbreaks in overcrowded shelters. Families continue to recover the bodies of loved ones as the nation mourns one of the deadliest natural disasters in its recent history.
