The toll of victims from the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela continues to worsen, according to recent data from EFE.
The president Delcy Rodríguez increased the toll to 164 fatalities, 971 injured, and confirmed at least 30 aftershocks recorded since the two earthquakes struck the northern part of the country on Wednesday afternoon.
The two earthquakes — measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude — occurred on Wednesday, June 24, with just 39 seconds of difference, with epicenters in the state of Yaracuy.
The second and more powerful one was located just 10 kilometers deep, which significantly amplified its surface impact and makes it, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the most powerful earthquake recorded in Venezuela since the year 1900.
The state of La Guaira has the worst damage. Rodríguez declared it a disaster zone and described the situation harshly.
"The State of La Guaira is a true tragedy. There are dozens of collapsed buildings, and we are currently engaged in very arduous rescue efforts to save the lives that God allows us to save," he said.
In Caracas, the areas of Los Palos Grandes, Altamira, and Chacao reported building collapses, including the 14-story Petunia residential building and at least one 22-story tower in Altamira.
More than 90 structures were affected just in the state of Miranda. The Simón Bolívar International Airport, the Caracas Metro, and the Tuy Valleys Railway remain closed due to structural damage. The states of Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcón are also among the hardest hit.
The USGS issued a Red Alert—its highest level—and its loss estimation system calculated a 42% probability that the final death toll could be between 10,000 and 100,000 people.
The organization also estimated that the economic losses could amount to 1%-7% of Venezuela's Gross Domestic Product. These are automatic probabilistic projections, not actual counts of victims, and the official tally remains well below those ranges.
In his second public appearance, early on Thursday morning, Rodríguez explicitly thanked U.S. President Donald Trump.
"I want to thank President Donald Trump and his administration for maintaining constant communication with the Venezuelan government, providing support and solidarity, and in the early hours, we will be receiving rescuers."
Trump responded on his social media platform Truth Social that he had instructed all government agencies to "move quickly" and that the United States would be there for its "new and great friends."
The Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the immediate dispatch of search and rescue teams, medical supplies, and humanitarian assistance.
Rodríguez also reported on the confirmed support from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Qatar, whose rescue team was scheduled to arrive this Thursday. Among the mentioned countries—United States, Panama, Qatar, Ecuador, Colombia, United Kingdom, Brazil, and Mexico—Cuba, a historical ally of the Venezuelan regime, was not included.
The acting president appeared flanked by Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly, and Diosdado Cabello, minister of the Interior, and called for national unity in the face of the catastrophe: "The main priority is to save lives; we will address how to tackle material reconstruction later."
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