Officials estimate that nearly 3,000 people have been injured. Countless others remain unaccounted for, while rescue teams continue searching through wreckage in hopes of finding survivors.
The second quake was reportedly the strongest earthquake to strike Venezuela in more than 100 years, causing widespread destruction across multiple regions.
President Donald Trump addressed the disaster from the White House on Thursday and pledged American support for relief efforts.
“We took over Venezuela in less than one day, and the oil is flowing, and we’re getting along with them great,” Trump said in remarks from the Rose Garden Thursday evening.
The president then turned his attention to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the South American nation.
“We’re going to, by the way, help them with their big – they had a tremendous earthquake last night. Did you read about massive, massive in Caracas? But we’re going to help them out,” Trump added.
The United States has already begun mobilizing resources.
According to military officials, Major General Kevin J. Jarrard of the U.S. Marine Corps arrived in Caracas on Thursday to help oversee the expanding American relief operation.
His deployment carries added significance given the dramatic shift in relations between Washington and Caracas. Just six months ago, U.S. special operations forces conducted a high-profile mission that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro.
Now, American military personnel are focused on humanitarian assistance rather than combat operations.
Southern Command announced that Jarrard’s mission is to coordinate incoming rescue teams, equipment, and emergency aid flowing into the hardest-hit regions.
American aircraft are already transporting search-and-rescue specialists, supplies, and support personnel into the country. State Department officials are also working alongside international partners to manage broader relief operations.
The response extends far beyond the United States.
Countries around the globe have pledged assistance as international rescue teams continue arriving in Venezuela to support local efforts.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez acknowledged the growing international support while emphasizing the urgency of the mission.
“We haven’t slept a wink in our efforts to save lives,” acting President Delcy Rodríguez said on Friday.
Rodríguez added that emergency personnel have already managed to rescue numerous survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures.
“We have saved dozens of lives,” she said.
The hardest-hit region appears to be La Guaira state, where officials say more than 100 buildings collapsed following the earthquakes.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello identified the communities of Caraballeda and Catia La Mar as among the most severely damaged areas.
To maintain order and support recovery operations, Cabello announced that approximately 11,500 security personnel would be deployed throughout the region.
Search operations remain active across the disaster zone.
Juan José Ramírez, Venezuela’s Sectoral Vice President of Public Works and Services, said specialized crews are utilizing heavy equipment and concrete-breaking machinery in hopes of locating additional survivors beneath the debris.
Ramírez urged residents not to interfere with ongoing rescue efforts, warning that well-intentioned volunteers can sometimes create additional dangers at unstable disaster sites.
“Many times, volunteers trying to help can actually make things worse,” the official said.
He stressed that emergency workers remain focused on a single objective.
“to save lives,” Ramírez said, while also noting that crews are working to restore water systems, communications networks, and other essential services.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department announced temporary sanctions relief to facilitate humanitarian operations.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a special license permitting transactions connected to earthquake relief efforts between June 26 and October 23. The authorization allows certain financial transfers involving Venezuela when tied directly to approved humanitarian activities.
Despite the ongoing rescue operation, frustration is growing among many Venezuelans who believe the government’s initial response was too slow.
Economist Jorge Jraissati described a population increasingly fearful that overwhelmed institutions may not be capable of meeting the enormous challenges ahead.
“People are really frustrated. They are scared because they know that they don’t have a state that will fulfill its role. So they know that nobody is going to go there and help them,” Jraissati said.
As rescue crews continue digging through mountains of debris and families desperately await news of missing loved ones, every passing hour becomes increasingly critical. With hundreds already confirmed dead and many still trapped beneath collapsed structures, Venezuela now faces a monumental recovery effort that could last for months—or even years.
