Venezuela Earthquake: Death Toll Reaches 1,430, Thousands Missing in Devastated Region
Rescue teams continue to search through rubble in the coastal state of La Guaira, Venezuela, after back-to-back earthquakes struck the region on Wednesday. Families are using bare hands and shovels to dig for trapped loved ones, while drones scan overhead for signs of life.
La Guaira, bordering the capital district of Caracas, is one of the hardest-hit areas. The earthquakes, measured at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, are among the strongest recorded in the country in the last century. Officials have confirmed at least 1,430 deaths, and the number is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.
Hundreds of buildings have collapsed, and thousands of people remain missing. The United Nations estimates around 50,000 people are unaccounted for. National rescue teams are stretched thin, but international teams from Mexico, Spain, the United States, and the United Kingdom have arrived to assist.
Residents are listening carefully for any sounds from beneath the rubble. Every moment is critical in the race to find survivors. Officials say the number of injured is also rising by the hour as more bodies are recovered.
