Rescuers and Civilians Search La Guaira After Venezuela Earthquakes Kill At Least 1,430

Rescuers and civilians searched through collapsed buildings in Venezuela’s state of La Guaira after twin earthquakes struck the South American country Wednesday night with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.

“LA GUAIRA, Venezuela -- Tensions flared Saturday as desperation grew in Venezuela's state of La Guaira as rescuers and civilians searched for earthquake survivors and the death toll rose sharply to 1,430”

ABC7 Los Angeles

The death toll rose to at least 1,430 people, with government officials saying Saturday that the number was expected to continue to grow, while thousands were injured and tens of thousands were reported missing.

ABC7 Los Angeles

In Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Daniel Cordero emerged from the rubble of a fallen building in Catia La Mar, surrounded by rescue workers who helped him onto a stretcher as bystanders filmed the scene.

ABC7 Los Angeles described tensions flaring Saturday as desperation grew in La Guaira and as Venezuela’s government said families reported at least 68,900 people missing, three days after the one-two punch of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes devastated the nation.

WHYY reported that rescuers in Venezuela raced to find survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings as Venezuelan Americans in the Philadelphia region mobilized donations, medical supplies and prayers, with Arianne Bracho saying, “You can still hear their cries, you can still see that there is life beneath the rubble.”

In La Guaira, Mileidy Romero said she saw bodies and newborn babies and asked why rescuers had not acted sooner, telling CP24, “At 8 p.m. (yesterday) there were people alive down there, and they haven’t bothered to rescue them.”

CP24 also quoted Yeison Marcano saying, “They came to eat arepas and take pictures to make it look like they were working,” as he described what he said was limited help during three days of searching.

Arab News PK

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said on state television that more than 14,000 members of the military and police are patrolling the area, where access is blocked and special permits are required to enter, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

NBC News described how José Alberto Gallipoli searched for his son Jofram and told NBC News in Spanish via WhatsApp, “Eventually, they will run out of oxygen,” as he said there was “no food, they don’t have electricity or water.”

The Weather Channel said the death toll stood at 1,430 on Saturday and that families reported at least 68,900 people missing as rescuers continued the search for survivors nearly 72 hours after the quakes.

WHYY said Casa de Venezuela Philadelphia, Casa de Venezuela Delaware and Gente de Venezuela joined forces with a national network to raise funds for search and rescue tools and first responders, and Bracho said the fundraising organizers were coordinating with people on the ground in La Guaira.

“News Flash LA GUAIRA, Venezuela, June 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The death toll from twin earthquakes in Venezuela soared to 589 on Friday, with thousands more unaccounted for as international rescue teams and sniffer dogs arrived to help find survivors”

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)

The article also said the local organizations were collecting medicines and medical supplies ahead of a Catholic mass at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica Saints Peter and Paul, and Bracho warned, “This is a tragedy that is not going to require our support just one time.”

ABC7 Los Angeles reported that Venezuelan officials said 17 flights carrying more than 1,600 rescue team members had touched down by Saturday, while Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said more than 14,000 members of the military and police were patrolling the area.

Reuters witnesses cited by CNBC said U.S. helicopters ferried rescue teams into a dusty landing zone in Caraballeda, dropping off crews before taking off again, as foreign rescue efforts intensified.

People reported that Acting President Delcy Rodríguez promised to save “as many people as possible” as foreign search and rescue groups joined volunteer searchers and government teams, while the UN’s Tom Fletcher told BBC Radio 4, “We cannot pause for a second while we hear them.”