Venezuela: US troops in action in earthquake affected area

A week after two devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, interim President Delcy Rodriguez declared seven days of national mourning on Monday. The tremors, which occurred just 39 seconds apart on Wednesday evening near Caracas, left widespread destruction across the country, particularly in the coastal state of La Guaira. Rodriguez expressed deep sorrow over the human losses caused by the disaster, stating that “the soul of Venezuela has been torn apart” due to the tragedy. As rescue operations continue, the hope of finding survivors alive diminishes, though there have been occasional reports of successful rescues.

The search for missing individuals continues despite growing challenges. Rescue teams are working tirelessly against time, but the window for finding survivors is rapidly closing. According to officials, nearly 2,300 bodies have been recovered so far, while more than 10,500 people have sustained injuries. The United Nations estimates that over 50,000 people remain missing. In La Guaira, one of the most severely affected areas, approximately 30,000 of these missing individuals are believed to be located in the port area.

Parliament Speaker Jorge Rodriguez stated that around 6,500 people had been rescued from the rubble in La Guaira by search teams. However, he speculated that the actual number of survivors could be closer to 20,000, as many victims may have freed themselves or received help from family members, friends, or neighbors. This suggests that the true scale of survival might be significantly higher than official figures indicate.

Despite the grim situation, some positive developments have emerged. On Tuesday, Jordanian rescue forces successfully retrieved a three-year-old child from the ruins of Caracas six days after the earthquake. The boy received immediate medical attention and was transported to a hospital. Similarly, on Sunday, international teams managed to rescue a 60-year-old woman from the debris in Caraballeda, part of La Guaira, according to El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele.

The impact of the earthquakes has been extensive, with damage reported to hundreds of buildings, including 780 homes and 38 hospitals. Public facilities such as shopping centers and other structures have also collapsed, resulting in the destruction or severe damage of approximately 2,500 residential and public buildings. Following the initial quakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, at least 430 aftershocks were recorded. Over 70,000 families now rely on humanitarian aid, with many forced to sleep outdoors or in emergency shelters.

Efforts to assess the extent of the damage and determine the habitability of affected structures are ongoing. A special commission has been established to evaluate the condition of damaged buildings, as announced by Rodriguez. Meanwhile, the search for missing persons remains a critical concern. According to an unofficial platform tracking missing individuals, more than 47,000 people are still unaccounted for, although this figure cannot be independently verified. Families are searching for loved ones by cross-referencing names on survivor lists found in temporary shelters.

Venezuela's political landscape adds another layer of complexity to the crisis. The country has long faced political tensions, economic instability, and one of the world's largest migration crises. Earlier this year, the U.S. military conducted an operation in January that resulted in the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro, who is currently being prosecuted in New York on charges related to drug trafficking. Delcy Rodriguez, who previously served as vice president under Maduro, is now leading the nation as interim president.

Criticism has been directed towards Rodriguez’s administration regarding its handling of the disaster response. After being booed during a visit to Caracas earlier in the week, she faced further scrutiny for holding a formal meeting with international rescue teams, which some critics argue diverts resources away from urgent relief efforts. Government-critical journalist Orlando Avendaño highlighted concerns about delays in rescue operations, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Meanwhile, opposition leader María Corina Machado has expressed her intention to return to Venezuela amid the crisis. She told Fox News that the time has come for her to go back, although the U.S. government reportedly views such a move as premature. Machado had previously lived in exile before secretly leaving the country last December.

U.S. military involvement in the region has also increased, with American soldiers deployed to assist in restoring transportation infrastructure at Caracas International Airport and the port of La Guaira. Approximately 100 Air Force personnel with experience in airport management are supporting local authorities in expanding air traffic flow, according to the U.S. Southern Command. Additional troops are expected to arrive within the next 24 hours to help open the harbor for essential supplies and equipment. The U.S. military has also deployed aircraft and helicopters, including a C-130 Hercules transport plane and V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, to support rescue operations.