A fresh earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale struck Venezuela’s northern coast on Friday evening, adding to the growing devastation and panic caused by the twin powerful earthquakes that have already claimed hundreds of lives and left tens of thousands missing.
Witnesses in Caracas and Maracay reported feeling the tremor, while the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre confirmed the quake’s magnitude at 4.9.
The latest tremor comes just days after two devastating earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck the country within minutes of each other, causing widespread destruction across several regions and triggering one of the worst natural disasters in Venezuela’s modern history.
Volunteers search for possible victims in a collapsed building following twin earthquakes in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, some 40 km northeast of Caracas, on June 25, 2026. The death toll from twin quakes, measured at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, has risen to at least 188, with more than 1,520 others injured, top lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez reported, while residents continue searching for missing relatives. (Photo by Federico PARRA / AFP)[/caption]
Authorities announced that the death toll from Wednesday’s earthquakes has risen sharply to 920, up from the previously reported figure of 589, as rescue operations continue around the clock in heavily damaged areas.
At the same time, the United Nations warned that more than 50,000 people remain missing, raising fears that the number of casualties could increase significantly in the coming days.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher described the situation as an “extremely complex emergency response,” stressing that rescue teams face a massive challenge in searching through collapsed buildings and debris.
International assistance has continued to expand rapidly, with rescue teams from at least 17 countries now participating in the search for survivors. The United States earlier confirmed the arrival of its first military relief contingent in Caracas, led by a senior Marine Corps officer.
Scenes from the disaster zones showed rescue workers operating in extremely difficult conditions, often using bare hands, shovels, and basic tools to search for survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures.
The coastal state of La Guaira, north of Caracas, remains the worst-affected area. The region, home to Maiquetía International Airport, suffered severe infrastructure damage, forcing the closure of the country’s main international gateway.
Several residential buildings in the coastal city of Catia La Mar collapsed completely, while aerial footage circulating on social media showed rows of damaged apartment buildings and destroyed infrastructure.
In a televised address, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez declared La Guaira a “disaster area” and announced that it had been placed under full military control following reports of looting and deteriorating security conditions.
Authorities also confirmed that access to the area would be restricted beginning Friday evening.
Survivors described scenes of fear and devastation. Lizbeth Vasquez, who survived the collapse of her residential building, said many residents remain trapped beneath the rubble.
“It’s horrific. Many of our neighbors are still under the debris and we are trying to pull them out,” she said.
Another resident, Danny Rizzo, appealed for urgent assistance, saying rescue workers lacked heavy equipment needed to save trapped victims.
“We need help. A little girl has been trapped since last night. We can rescue her, but we need bulldozers,” he said.
Among the confirmed victims are several foreign nationals, including citizens from Spain, Portugal, Brazil, China, and Italy. Spain’s Foreign Ministry said it is still unable to account for 99 Spanish nationals believed to be in Venezuela.
Meanwhile, acting President Delcy Rodríguez visited several disaster sites in Caracas and La Guaira, although some residents expressed anger during her visit, accusing authorities of politicizing the tragedy amid mounting public frustration over the scale of the disaster and the slow pace of rescue operations.
With aftershocks continuing and fears of further building collapses remaining high, emergency crews continue their race against time to locate survivors beneath the rubble as Venezuela faces an escalating humanitarian catastrophe.
