Rescues and aid efforts offer relief after Venezuela earthquakes

Rescue teams in northern Venezuela continued searching for survivors after two powerful earthquakes left more than 1,400 people dead, Reuters reported. The work has drawn international crews to La Guaira, the coastal state hit hardest, where officials said collapsed buildings and blocked access have slowed emergency operations.

Reuters reported that magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck on Wednesday, causing severe damage in Caracas and nearby La Guaira. Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly, said Sunday that the death toll had risen to 1,450, with 3,150 people injured and 12,721 displaced. He said at least 774 buildings had fallen.

Rescue work continues

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said Sunday that search and recovery operations would continue because rescuers were still finding people alive. She also announced a presidential commission to assess whether damaged buildings could be occupied.

Rodriguez said schools would remain closed for another week and that electricity service in La Guaira had been restored to 75 percent. Her government thanked civilian volunteers taking aid to the area, then restricted road access, saying congestion was delaying emergency vehicles.

Foreign rescue teams have joined Venezuelan workers in La Guaira, about 40km north of Caracas, Reuters reported. Crews there have been searching through debris from buildings that collapsed into rubble and sand.

International aid arrives

Several governments and relief groups have sent personnel, equipment or money, according to Reuters and official statements cited by Al Jazeera. The United States announced plans to deploy warships, transport aircraft and helicopters, and said it would provide $150m in aid.

Brazil sent firefighters, risk assessment staff, telecommunications specialists and medical supplies. El Salvador prepared 300 paramedics and other rescue workers, along with 50 tonnes of equipment, medicines and basic goods.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it released $2.5m for recovery efforts. Cuba, Mexico and Colombia sent rescue workers, medical staff and medical supplies, while Turkiye, Qatar, France, India, China, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Germany were also among countries providing support.

Survivors pulled from rubble

The US Department of State said American rescue crews helped pull a crying infant from debris on Saturday. The department posted video on X showing helmeted emergency workers carrying the blanket-wrapped baby out of the rubble.

Reuters TV reported that a Colombian rescue team saved an 11-year-old boy named Moises after finding him with a scanner under about 3 metres of debris. He was taken out on a stretcher with a broken arm, his eyes covered to protect them from daylight. Reuters reported that his mother and sister were killed.

A Mexican crew also rescued an 11-year-old boy named Rodriguez from a collapsed building in Caraballeda, according to a post on X from the team late Saturday. The post showed rescuers carrying a small figure on a stretcher.

Videos circulating on social media showed people forming a human chain to unload trucks carrying humanitarian supplies. Captions and comments on the posts described the group as volunteers and university students helping distribute aid.

In Rome, Pope Leo XIV told worshippers Sunday that he wanted to express closeness to Venezuelans affected by the earthquakes and thanked rescue workers. The Vatican earlier said the pope had sent an initial 100,000 euros, or $114,000, in emergency aid.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.