Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 235, Over 4,300 Injured, Says Health Minister

The death toll from Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes has climbed to 235, with more than 4,300 people injured, Health Minister Carlos Alvarado confirmed Thursday evening, as rescue crews continued racing against time to reach survivors still trapped beneath collapsed buildings across the country.

What the Health Minister Said

The death toll from the deadly double earthquakes that hit Venezuela on Wednesday has risen to around 235, Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said on state television Thursday evening. He added that more than 4,300 people were injured. "As of 7:00 PM today, we have already attended to more than 4,300 injured people, some minor, most minor, but there are also moderate and serious cases. Many of them have required surgical interventions, and unfortunately, we have received around 235 patients who arrived without vital signs or who died upon arrival at our health facilities," he said.

Alvarado's account of the medical response highlighted just how strained the country's hospital system has become. The majority of patients are experiencing mild symptoms, Alvarado said on state TV, but there have also been "moderate and severe cases." The public health system had reached its capacity as of 7 p.m. today, he said. "An extraordinary effort is underway nationwide. The highest number of injured and deceased is in La Guaira state," he said in an interview on state television. "In La Guaira state, the hospitals are very full of patients, and we've set up field hospitals," he said.

How the Disaster Unfolded

The scale of the destruction stems from an unusual seismic phenomenon. The first earthquake was centered 17.6 miles northwest of the town of Montalbán, the USGS said, and struck at a depth of 8.2 miles. It was preliminarily reported as a 7.1 magnitude quake before being upgraded to a 7.2. Less than one minute later, a second earthquake measuring at a magnitude of 7.5 struck just north of the first. "This earthquake was the second event in a doublet, this magnitude 7.5 mainshock was preceded just 39 seconds before by a 7.2 foreshock," the USGS said. The widespread devastation stems from a rare "seismic doublet" — a phenomenon where two high-intensity tectonic events rupture almost simultaneously in the same region.

La Guaira Bears the Brunt of the Damage

The coastal state just north of Caracas has emerged as the epicenter of the human tragedy. The vast majority of casualties and severe injuries are concentrated in the coastal state of La Guaira, which serves as the primary maritime and aerial gateway to Caracas. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the Altamira neighborhood in Caracas had "alarming situations" with collapsed homes and buildings. He urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could further damage some structures. "We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are acting according to protocols to activate aid and rescue efforts to help those who need it most," Cabello said on state TV. "Be very careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no one has been harmed".

Survivors described chaotic, terrifying scenes as the buildings around them began to crumble. Maria Alejandra, a woman who escaped a collapsed building in Caracas, told Reuters that "all the walls were cracked" when the earthquakes struck. With her eyes still wide from the shock, Díaz recounted that she felt the movement "like a roar." Somehow, she and the rest of her family managed to escape the building, where they saw cracks in some walls. They were also able to salvage a few belongings — cookies, water and underwear — just enough to get them through the initial moments of the emergency.

Why the Toll Could Climb Far Higher

Officials and seismologists alike are bracing for the confirmed numbers to rise substantially as search efforts continue. The U.S. Geological Survey has forecast with a 91 percent likelihood the death toll will exceed 1,000, but said it could be higher. That forecast is based on the population exposed to the strongest effects of the earthquakes, and how vulnerable their dwellings are. Using predictive modeling, the USGS estimates the death toll from Venezuela's earthquakes could run into the thousands — with a high likelihood that it will exceed 10,000.

Search efforts remain hampered by both the scale of destruction and continuing aftershocks. More than 1,500 were injured and another 200 are known to be trapped, with the death toll expected to rise as many more remain missing. One website set up to help Venezuelans find missing loved ones says it has now received tens of thousands of reports about people who haven't been heard from.

International Aid Pours In

Governments around the world have moved quickly to offer assistance. In response to the devastation, the U.S. Treasury on Thursday moved to waive some sanctions until Oct. 23 to allow transactions related to earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela that would otherwise be prohibited. Jeremy P. Lewin, the U.S. undersecretary of state for foreign assistance, said the State Department had mobilized a disaster assistance team and task force to coordinate the aid in coordination with the interim Venezuelan government. Offers of help came from governments including those of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama and Uruguay.

Specialized search-and-rescue teams have begun arriving from multiple countries. Two of the United States' most accomplished and sophisticated urban search and rescue teams — from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County — are deploying to Venezuela. And the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced the deployment of a team of rescuers and health personnel from the Secretariat of National Defense to bolster the effort. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told his Venezuelan counterpart that Ankara would continue providing humanitarian assistance, as two Turkish aircraft carrying search-and-rescue equipment were dispatched to the disaster zone. Canada announced an initial $5 million in humanitarian aid to support life-saving help, including emergency food, water and health care.

Even private companies have stepped in to support the relief effort. Starlink announced it will provide free satellite internet through July 25 to customers in areas of Venezuela affected by the devastating earthquakes, as Acting President Delcy Rodríguez thanked Elon Musk for supporting those impacted by the disaster.

A Nation Already in Crisis

The earthquakes have struck a country already grappling with severe political and economic strain. The disaster comes at a dire time for Venezuela, which was already in a political and financial crisis. The United Nations' children's agency has warned that thousands of children are at risk in Venezuela after the two earthquakes, adding another layer of urgency to the humanitarian response.

For ongoing, authoritative updates on earthquake magnitude data, aftershock activity, and seismic modeling tied to this disaster, the US Geological Survey's Earthquake Hazards Program remains the most reliable technical source as the situation develops.

What Happens Next

With Health Minister Alvarado warning the public health system has already reached capacity and hundreds still believed trapped in rubble, the coming days will be decisive in determining whether Venezuela can avoid the catastrophic upper-end death toll projected by USGS modeling. International search-and-rescue teams from the US, Mexico, Turkey, and other nations are now racing against time, even as aftershocks continue to complicate efforts to reach survivors in the hardest-hit areas of La Guaira and Caracas.