Venezuela quake death toll climbs to 1,430, more than 51,000 still missing

The death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to 1,430, while at least 3,238 people have been injured and more than 51,000 remain missing, according to the latest official figures.

Domestic and international rescue teams are continuing round-the-clock operations in a race to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

The disaster unfolded on Wednesday when two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck northern Venezuela within seconds of each other. The second tremor is considered the strongest to hit the country in more than a century, causing widespread destruction across the capital Caracas, La Guaira and surrounding areas.

Rescue efforts were briefly disrupted on Friday after a 4.8–4.9 magnitude aftershock shook Caracas, Maracay and nearby regions, triggering fresh panic among residents. Authorities, however, said the latest tremor caused no major additional damage.

The humanitarian situation remains critical in the hardest-hit state of La Guaira, where shortages of heavy rescue equipment and delays in relief distribution have fueled growing frustration. In several locations, relatives and volunteers continue clearing debris by hand in a desperate effort to find survivors.

Emergency officials say the operation remains in its most crucial phase, with experts stressing that the first 72 hours after a major earthquake offer the highest chance of rescuing people alive from beneath the rubble.

A preliminary assessment by the United Nations estimates the disaster has caused approximately 6.7 billion US dollars in direct economic losses, underscoring the scale of the destruction.

The international response has continued to expand, with rescue teams from the United States, Argentina, El Salvador and several other countries joining search operations. The United States has also announced an additional 150 million US dollars in humanitarian assistance and said it would temporarily ease certain sanctions to facilitate the rapid delivery of emergency aid.

Authorities say rescue operations will continue uninterrupted as hopes remain that more survivors can still be pulled alive from the ruins.