A Venezuelan flag is seen painted on a damaged wall amid the rubble of a collapsed building following earthquakes in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, Venezuela, on June 26, 2026. (Photo by Maryorin Mendez / AFP)
The death toll from Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes has climbed to nearly 3,000, according to official figures released on Saturday, as international rescue teams begin scaling back search-and-rescue operations.
Authorities said fatalities rose by more than 300 since Friday to 2,954 following the June 24 earthquakes, which left thousands homeless and forced many others into temporary shelters. Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for.
The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, rank among the deadliest natural disasters in Latin America’s recent history. The worst destruction occurred in the coastal La Guaira region, north of Caracas, where numerous residential buildings were reduced to rubble.
Ten days after the disaster, rescue teams are gradually ending efforts to locate survivors, although families continue searching for the bodies of missing relatives. While the likelihood of finding survivors typically drops sharply after the first 72 hours, a handful of people have been rescued alive in recent days.
In a ceremony marking the contribution of international responders, interim President Delcy Rodríguez presented medals to rescue teams from several countries, including search-and-rescue dogs.
“Venezuela is experiencing a profound grief that has gripped our people. Families continue to hope they will find their loved ones alive, while many have lost everything,” Rodríguez said.
International rescue teams, including personnel from the United States and several South American countries, confirmed they were concluding their operations. The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s rescue unit said it had found no further signs of life, while teams from Florida and Virginia were preparing to return home over the weekend.
The government’s response has drawn criticism from many Venezuelans, who said they were forced to dig through collapsed buildings themselves before international rescue teams arrived. Rodríguez, however, defended the government’s actions, insisting that thousands of military personnel and emergency workers were deployed immediately after the earthquakes.
In La Guaira, heavy machinery has begun clearing collapsed structures, while some families continue recovering the remains of loved ones for burial.
“We’re still working, still searching for bodies. It hasn’t been easy,” said volunteer Francisco Sasquia. “We found two bodies that have already been released to their families.”
The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with more than 16,000 people displaced by the earthquakes. Hospitals remain under severe strain, and health experts have warned of a growing risk of disease outbreaks in overcrowded shelters.
Among those mourning is Víctor Colivert, who remained beside the body of his nephew after it was recovered from the wreckage. Fearing it could be lost amid the confusion, his family refused to let forensic officials take it away.
“If I have to go to China or anywhere else, I’m not leaving him alone,” Colivert said. “I’m going with him.”
