Massacre in Venezuela: the toll rises to 589 deaths. Almost 50 thousand people are missing

A “terrifying devastation”: this is how the UN has defined it the damages of the most powerful earthquake (the strongest in the last 125 years) that it has devastated Venezuela with two shocks twins of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 39 seconds later.

The bulletin is dramatic and destined to rise further. Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, said the toll from Wednesday’s devastating double earthquake had risen to at least 589 dead. The one released a few hours ago by the government had reported 235 dead and 4,300 injured. Searches continue to find any survivors under the rubble. Numbers in hand, the official death toll from Wednesday’s two earthquakes in Venezuela has more than doubled, reaching 589. Unfortunately, we now count 589 victims,” ​​Rodriguez said during a televised meeting with military and civilian officials. Rescuers rushed to find survivors under the rubble of collapsed buildings. And they are still being counted quasi 50mila dispersedAmong the deceased there is also an Italian-Venezuelan.

An Italian-Venezuelan

Italy estimates that there are approximately 170,000 Italian passport holders in Venezuela. And the Farnesina says that many compatriots do not respond. But in the state of La Guaira we dig relentlessly. Even with bare hands. Over 100 buildings have collapsed in the area and 70 thousand families have now been displaced.

A man in his fifties, born in Caracas and possesses citizenship Italian than that Venezuelanwas killed in the collapse of a building in the hardest-hit region of La Guaira. This was declared by the Farnesina. Italy estimates that there are approximately 170,000 Italian passport holders in Venezuela.

The other foreign victims

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazilwhich borders Venezuela, said Thursday that two of its citizens – a man and a woman – had died in the disaster. The government is providing consular assistance to their family members, the ministry said.

The presence of two was confirmed Thursday afternoon Chinese citizens among the victims of the earthquakes, the Chinese state news agency reported Xinhuaciting the embassy in Caracas which, via its official WeChat account, urged Chinese citizens in Venezuela to “take precautions against secondary disasters caused by aftershocks and (other) earthquakes.”

Among the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Venezuela there is also a Portuguese. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lisbon confirmed “the first death of a Portuguese citizen” in the earthquake. The man was pulled alive from the rubble, but died while being transported to hospital, the ministry reported on X.

Help and solidarity from all over the world

Rescue teams, humanitarian aid and messages of solidarity: A shell-shocked international community steps in to support Venezuela. From Italy to the European Union, from the Vatican to the United States, up to Latin America and Caracas’ main partners, governments, international bodies and humanitarian organizations have launched the first initiatives to support search operations and assist the affected population. The search operations will also be able to count on the use of international teams certified by the United Nations, whose deployment was announced by the interim president Delcy Rodriguez.

Italy and the EU

Italy is among the countries that have made assistance available through the European Civil Protection Mechanism. THE’European Union it also activated the Copernicus satellite system to map the affected areas and coordinate the aid offered by Italy, Spain and the Czech Republic. Brussels said it was ready to further strengthen its support, while Madrid was among the first European capitals to express closeness to Caracas. On the European front, France announced the immediate dispatch of a team of 85 rescuers specialized in rescue and rubble clearance operations. President Emmanuel Macron, after a conversation with Rodrìguez, assured that Paris is ready to act together with European partners to respond to the requests of the Venezuelan authorities. The French government also announced that the embassy in Caracas suffered damage due to the earthquake.

The Netherlands will also participate in the operations with a contingent of at least 60 specialists, including firefighters, doctors, engineers and dog units, allocating up to two million euros to finance the mission. Germany has announced the dispatch of six military transport planes to support humanitarian operations, while Switzerland is mobilizing 80 operators, eight search dogs and 18 tonnes of equipment. The Czech Republic also confirmed that its rescue team is ready to leave.

The financial support of Pope Leo

A first came from the Vatican economic support. Pope Leo XIV has arranged an initial contribution of 100,000 euros, which will be channeled through local ecclesiastical structures to meet the most urgent needs of the affected population.

The USA

Il US Secretary of State Marco Rubio he assured a “rapid, broad and effective” response from the entire American government, specifying that the priority is to save the people still trapped under the rubble. The United States also announced a $150 million aid package, while the President Donald Trump he assured that Washington will stand by Venezuela. “We are ready to help our new friends,” he wrote on Truth. The USA has announced warships, helicopters and rescue planesas well as the suspension of sanctions to facilitate relief efforts.

Latin America

Latin America is among the first areas to have mobilized men and resources. The Mexico will send rescuers and healthcare personnel from the Ministry of National Defense; there President Claudia Sheinbaum he explained that the contingent will evaluate the needs on the field before a possible strengthening of the mission, reiterating that “Mexico is and will always be supportive”. Also the Chile confirmed the sending of humanitarian aid and rescue teams after a conversation between President Josè Antonio Kast and Rodrìguez. The Brazil will launch a humanitarian mission between Friday and Saturday with 36 specialized firefighters, civil protection and telecommunications technicians and the material necessary to set up a field hospital. They will also join the operations Ecuador and El Salvador. 47 rescuers and two trained dogs will depart from Quito, while President Nayib Bukele announced a mission made up of 300 rescuers and paramedics, with 50 tons of equipment, medicines and basic necessities. Panama and the Dominican Republic have also announced the dispatch of rescuers, while Colombia will send over 60 operators and 12 tons of humanitarian aid.

“Colombia will always help Venezuela,” President Gustavo Petro said. Argentina has announced the sending of humanitarian aid to a country which, according to presidential spokesman Adrian Ravier, “is experiencing one of the most devastating natural disasters in its recent history”. Cuba has made it known that its medical mission has been involved in assisting the wounded since the early hours. Offers of support have also arrived from Peru, Paraguay, Costa Rica and Uruguay, while Canada is preparing a shipment of humanitarian aid. Haiti, remembering the devastating earthquake of 2010, expressed its closeness to the Venezuelan people. At the same time, the machinery of international organizations was activated.

L’Her

The United Nations is coordinating the deployment of at least 12 international search and rescue teams, and Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher called the situation in the affected areas a “truly terrifying devastation.” The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also made it known that talks with the Venezuelan authorities will focus on how to deal with the additional needs arising from the catastrophe. In terms of material aid, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has announced the immediate allocation of 2.5 million dollars to support emergency operations.

At least 40 tons of humanitarian aid will also leave from the Panama logistics base for Venezuela. A first shipment of 17 tonnes, intended for 800 families, is expected on Thursday evening with an estimated transit time of around two hours. Among Caracas’ main international partners, China has said it is ready to provide “all the help” necessary based on the country’s needs. Russia expressed solidarity with the “friendly Venezuelan people” assuring that it will respond “timely” to any request for assistance, while Iran also declared itself available to provide the support required for the rescue operations. Spanish chef Josè Andrès also joined the mobilization, announcing a donation of one million dollars to support World Central Kitchen, already involved in organizing food distribution.

The condolence

Finally, messages of condolence and sympathy arrived from numerous countries. The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed “full support” for the Venezuelan people, while the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz they expressed their solidarity with the victims. Condolences were also expressed by Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Libya and Algeria, while Israel announced that it had started preparations for the possible sending of a humanitarian delegation. The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela finally called for the lifting of restrictions on the Internet and media to facilitate the flow of information during the emergency.