Rescue operations continued across Venezuela on Thursday, a day after powerful earthquakes killed at least 164 and injured over 1,000, AP reported. The back-to-back quakes on Wednesday evening collapsed buildings in Caracas, prompting prayers alongside the rescues as international aid was offered.
AP figures show the quakes struck on Wednesday evening, causing widespread damage and sending panicked residents into the streets. Venezuelan officials including Vice President Delcy Rodríguez urged the population to remain calm and to show unity while asking health care professionals nationwide to report to hospitals. The focus remained on speeding up rescue efforts during daylight hours to reach those still trapped under collapsed buildings, the news agency added.
In responses from world leaders carried by AP, the United States announced it was deploying search and rescue teams along with medical and humanitarian assistance. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that 85 French rescue specialists would be sent immediately to support operations in Venezuela. These moves came as the government sought to manage the aftermath of the disaster that has strained local emergency services.
From exile, opposition leader María Corina Machado posted on X with a message of prayer and resilience. “May strength, serenity, and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult time,” she said on X. Her comments reflected the broader sentiment of national solidarity amid the tragedy.
Video footage highlighted scenes of rescues and prayers a day after Venezuelan earthquakes, with emergency workers pulling survivors from the debris while communities turned to prayer for comfort. The BBC video captured the human dimension of the crisis unfolding in Caracas and beyond. Such images have circulated widely as the country grapples with the impact.
For context, a 1967 series of earthquakes in Venezuela resulted in 47 deaths and more than 1,500 injuries, according to a New York Times report from the time. The current disaster has already produced a significantly higher casualty count, underscoring the greater magnitude of the recent seismic events. Rescue teams were persisting with their searches, hoping to reduce the number of those unaccounted for.
