Rescue teams and volunteers are racing against time to search for survivors after two devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, killing at least 1,430 people. Authorities warn the death toll will continue to rise as hopes of finding survivors fade, with more than 51,000 people still missing.
The two earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck near the city of San Felipe at around 6 p.m. local time, about 40 seconds apart. Since then, authorities have recorded more than 302 aftershocks.
Satellite images taken on June 26 show widespread damage, particularly in the coastal cities of Macuto and Caraballeda. Before-and-after images of the disaster capture the collapse of many high-rise apartment buildings and resorts, with Caraballeda suffering the heaviest damage as coastal structures were completely flattened.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least 1,423 infrastructure units have been affected. La Guaira state is the hardest-hit area. Transportation systems remain suspended and international airports are closed.
Caraballeda — home to about 53,000 people on Venezuela's Caribbean coast — is one of the worst-affected communities, with entire neighborhoods leveled. The city, just east of La Guaira, has become the focal point of rescue operations as workers search for survivors under the rubble and aid faces difficulties reaching devastated areas.
The Residencia Nautilus, a 12-story building in Caraballeda, collapsed and has become a symbol of Venezuela's catastrophic earthquake. Dozens of people are believed trapped under the debris, and the building is now one of the largest rescue sites as teams continue searching for survivors.
Disaster experts say the first 72 hours offer the best chance of saving people, as those trapped under collapsed buildings can die from dehydration, injuries, and suffocation. That critical window closed on Sunday.
