Venezuela: International rescue teams describe dramatic operations after twin earthquakes

Caracas – 01.07.2026: A week after the two powerful earthquakes on Venezuela’s coast, search and recovery efforts continue under great strain. Authorities report massive damage to residential buildings, hospitals and transportation routes along the Caribbean coast, particularly in the states of La Guaira and Carabobo. Repeated aftershocks repeatedly hamper the work; rubble must be secured, unstable facades shored up and gas leaks eliminated. Many residents spent additional nights outdoors because their buildings are uninhabitable or without electricity and water.

According to official information, aid teams from around 30 countries are deployed. These include search dog units, technical detection teams and emergency medical personnel. From France, 85 specialists from the Sécurité civile arrived, equipped with acoustic detection devices, endoscopes and inflatable support cushions. The teams report around-the-clock shifts and rescues in which buried people were recovered alive after dozens of hours. In improvised treatment areas, medical staff are treating trauma, dehydration and infections; at the same time, the injured are being transferred to less affected clinics.

Coordination of international assistance is taking place in consultation with Venezuelan disaster protection authorities and the United Nations. The priority remains the search for survivors and securing critical infrastructure: drinking water supply, emergency power for hospitals and the restoration of transport routes. Humanitarian air and sea bridges have been established at several ports and airports to bring heavy equipment, tents, water purification systems and medical supplies quickly to the affected areas. Logistical bottlenecks exist mainly for fuel, protective equipment and spare parts for clearance vehicles.

Experts point out that aftershocks of this magnitude can continue for days. For the population, a network of emergency shelters has therefore been expanded, where drinking water, food and basic health services are provided. Engineers are simultaneously checking the structural integrity of public buildings, schools and bridges. International partners are offering support for medium- and long-term reconstruction planning, including technical advice on earthquake-resistant construction and rapid repair of power and water networks.

While the rescue phase continues, the care of survivors is moving to the foreground. Aid organizations warn of health risks in overcrowded shelters and are appealing for additional sanitation facilities, mosquito nets and vaccines. Authorities are calling on the population to respect cordons and avoid rumors. Official information should be consolidated through civil protection channels and municipal emergency centers to avoid hampering operations.