Back-to-back earthquakes killed around 235 people and injured at least 4,300 in northern Venezuela, devastating working-class communities already struggling under state-imposed social media restrictions that hindered life-saving information exchange. Neighbors in cities across the region dug through rubble to search for loved ones as thousands remained missing following the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude tremors.
The official death toll, reported by Venezuela Health Minister Carlos Alvarado, stood at approximately 235 late Thursday, with at least 4,300 injured. The International Organization for Migration estimated that up to 6.76 million people in Venezuela could be affected by the quakes, including some 2 million in Caracas alone. Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross’ regional director for the Americas, noted that “people are still terrified to reenter what were their homes.”
Families across Venezuela and abroad resorted to WhatsApp, Facebook, and X to create digital flyers and share handwritten lists of names in a desperate search for relatives. Many struggled to contact loved ones due to interrupted phone service within the country. Dayana Delgado, a mother of three, expressed her anguish, stating, “I want to know where my child is, if he’s trapped or in a shelter,” referring to her missing 8-year-old son. In downtown Caracas, hundreds spent the night huddled in parks and other open spaces.
The State's Role in Crisis
These communication challenges were exacerbated by the state’s prior actions. X and messaging app Signal had been blocked by then-President Nicolás Maduro since August 2024, a period of two years. This block was implemented in an attempt to suppress the exchange of information among those who rejected his claim of victory in the July 2024 presidential election.
United Nations officials in Venezuela called on the government to lift these social media restrictions, emphasizing that timely access to reliable information can save lives. Following this international pressure, Venezuelans in the country were able to access X. The UN human rights mission in Venezuela issued a statement on Thursday reiterating the call for the lifting of local restrictions.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who took office in January this year after the capture and removal of then-President Nicolás Maduro by the United States, declared a state of emergency. She announced the creation of a $200 million reconstruction fund for damaged hospitals and homes. Rodríguez appealed to businesses on Thursday to make heavy construction equipment available for rescue operations, stating, “We hope to rescue as many living people as possible.”
The Human Cost of Systemic Failure
The coastal region of La Guaira, north of the capital Caracas, suffered some of the heaviest damage and casualties. Cristian Carreño, a resident of La Guaira, recounted, “I lost everything,” adding, “There are people still inside, I imagine, that couldn’t get out. It’s incredibly devastating.” A retired schoolteacher, Juan Alberto Mendaño, described spotting a trapped woman signaling for help, saying, “When we heard the scream, there was nothing we could do.” Caracas metropolitan rescue team head José Luis Núñez described a 10-story building in La Guaira that collapsed and flattened “like a pancake.”
The country’s main airport in La Guaira was closed due to damage, complicating aid efforts. Despite these logistical hurdles, some 1,000 emergency responders in 25 search-and-rescue teams from across the globe were deploying to Venezuela. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who spoke to Rodríguez, announced immediate U.S. assistance, stating, “We have a whole-of-government response. It’ll be big; it’ll be fast; and it’ll be effective,” while acknowledging the airport closure. Teams from Spain, Chile, Switzerland, Germany, Turkey, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, and Mexico arrived or were en route, with leaders from Qatar, Brazil, Portugal, and Canada also vowing help.