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According to a report from The Associated Press, tensions are surging in Venezuela’s La Guaira state as rescuers and desperate civilians frantically search through rubble for survivors following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country three days ago.
The Venezuelan government reported Saturday morning that the death toll had risen to 1,430, with families registering at least 68,900 people as missing.
The back-to-back quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, delivered a devastating one-two punch to the South American nation, leveling buildings and leaving entire communities in ruins.
In La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas just north of Caracas, residents have taken matters into their own hands. Armed with shovels, ropes, heavy machinery where available, and even their bare hands, civilians clamber over mounds of collapsed concrete in a race against time.
Many government responders—soldiers, firefighters, police, and cadets—appeared overwhelmed and underprepared for the scale of the disaster, fueling mounting frustration among those digging through the debris.
“There’s a pile of bodies over there from last night. Newborn babies. Look what time it is, and they still haven’t come to recover them,” said Mileidy Romero, searching in the seaside town of Caraballeada. “At 8 p.m. there were people alive down there, and they haven’t bothered to rescue them. We’ve located several bodies, and they haven’t helped us recover them either. What are they waiting for?”
Aid agencies emphasize that the first 48 to 72 hours are critical for pulling people out alive, though survival chances can extend slightly with access to food and water. Nearly three days on, a growing contingent of international rescue teams has begun arriving to support local efforts.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez stated on state television that over 14,000 military and police personnel are patrolling affected zones, with access now restricted and special permits required.
She described the current period as “critical hours for rescuing people alive.” Meanwhile, Simón Bolívar International Airport near Caracas sustained significant damage, though one runway became operational as U.S. teams assisted with repairs.
In Catia La Mar and other communities, families wait in anguish. Nazareth Jiménez broke down as she watched neighbors hack through concrete slabs, pleading for heavier machinery.
“My God, how are we going to get them out of there?” she said. “We’re making a call for help to the government and countries across the world. There are still people alive in there.”
The disaster has compounded Venezuela’s existing challenges. Up to 6.76 million people could be affected, including around 2 million in Caracas alone, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Many survivors continue sleeping in the streets, too fearful to re-enter damaged structures. The number of injured exceeds 3,300, with 243 people rescued so far.
U.S. officials, including senior State Department representative Jeremy Lewin, described the situation as “a race against the clock.” American search teams, a Navy transport ship, and coordination for additional aid are underway, joining efforts from Mexico, Brazil, El Salvador, France, and others.
End Time Headlines is a ministry founded, owned, and operated by Ricky Scaparo, established in 2010 to equip believers and inform discerning individuals about the “Signs and Seasons” of the times in which we live. Ricky authors original articles and curates news from mainstream sources, carefully selecting topics, verifying information, and utilizing artificial intelligence tools to ensure content is both timely and accurate. Every piece is personally reviewed and edited by Ricky to align with the ministry’s mission of providing a prophetic perspective on current events.