Caracas, June 28 (V7N) – The death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to 1,400, while more than 55,000 people remain missing, as international rescue teams continue searching for survivors in the country's worst-hit regions.

Rescue operations have intensified in the coastal areas and the capital, Caracas, where emergency workers are racing against time to locate people trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

According to the latest reports, search-and-rescue efforts remain focused on parts of Caracas and the heavily affected city of La Guaira. Local residents and volunteers have spent days pulling survivors and victims from the rubble, although many have complained about a shortage of heavy rescue equipment and limited government support.

Officials said more than 1,600 foreign rescue personnel have already arrived in Venezuela, with additional international teams expected to join the operation in the coming days.

The Venezuelan government acknowledged that hundreds of people are still believed to be trapped beneath collapsed structures. However, an opposition-backed monitoring website estimates that more than 55,000 people remain unaccounted for.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that the final death toll from the twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, could exceed 10,000, potentially making the disaster one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike Latin America in the past century.

The catastrophe is also expected to pose a significant political challenge for interim President Delcy Rodríguez as recovery efforts continue.

Speaking in Rome on Saturday, Pope Leo offered prayers for those who lost their lives, expressed sympathy to grieving families and thanked rescue workers for their efforts. He also appealed to the international community to continue providing humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.

The United States has already dispatched emergency relief supplies following the disaster. A senior official in the Trump administration said that, in addition to the previously announced $150 million in assistance, Washington is considering a larger aid package that could be unveiled within the next two days.

Meanwhile, a White House official told Reuters that a reported initiative to facilitate the return of opposition leader María Corina Machado to Venezuela with U.S. support has generated disagreement among senior officials in Washington, who believe that humanitarian relief should remain the immediate priority during the unfolding disaster.

Source: Reuters