28/06/2026 21:16 - Internacionales
Venezuelan Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez confirmed on Sunday, June 28, that the death toll has reached 1,450 victims, describing this tragedy as "the most brutal natural catastrophe our country has ever suffered in its history." Two powerful earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 devastated the nation on Wednesday, June 24, leaving 3,150 injured and approximately 70,000 people missing.
The coastal state of La Guaira, located just 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Venezuela's capital Caracas, has suffered the most catastrophic damage. More than 100 buildings collapsed completely in this Caribbean coastal region, where local residents are conducting their own searches due to a shortage of heavy machinery.
Access to the disaster zone is now controlled through a QR code system, implemented by Venezuelan authorities to prevent unauthorized entry. The José María Vargas Hospital, the state's main medical facility, has collapsed under the strain, with most injured patients being transferred to hospitals in Caracas.
Belkys Josefina Barreto García, 60, was miraculously rescued alive on Sunday after being trapped for 86 hours beneath the collapsed Breogan building in Caraballeda, La Guaira. Rescuers worked continuously for 11 hours to free her. She is in critical condition and was airlifted by helicopter to a private clinic in Caracas.
A newborn baby of just 18 days, identified as Juan David, and his mother Dayana Patiño were rescued alive after spending 32 hours trapped under rubble in Playa Grande, La Guaira. Their survival story has touched hearts worldwide and become a symbol of hope.
Alí Rodríguez, a 50-year-old motorcycle taxi driver, was trapped for eight hours under the rubble of a supermarket in La Guaira. He was rescued along with his wife, but his 10-year-old son remains missing. "I'm sure he must be looking for me," he said from the José María Vargas Hospital, where he refuses to leave, holding onto hope.
Argentina has deployed a contingent of 26 specialized military personnel from the PUMA USAR ARG 13 Brigade, along with canine units and medical staff. The team arrived in Caracas on Saturday, June 27, at 2:30 AM and immediately deployed to Caraballeda, La Guaira.
The U.S. Embassy in Argentina confirmed that MV-22 Osprey aircraft from the U.S. Marine Corps transported the Argentine urban search and rescue team to the affected areas. Argentina's Ministry of Defense is already preparing a second contingent with doctors and nurses to provide additional medical assistance.
Source: Clarín
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado announced in an interview with Fox News that she will return "very soon" to Venezuela after months in exile. Machado left the country clandestinely in December 2025 to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
"The time has come. Very soon I will be back in Venezuela," she declared. Her political organization, "Comando Venezuela," stated that their absolute priority is saving lives and supporting affected families.
Pope Leo XIV expressed his spiritual closeness to the Venezuelan people during the Sunday Angelus prayer and thanked rescuers working generously in the search efforts. Additionally, he donated 100,000 euros in humanitarian aid.
The United Nations, through the International Organization for Migration, warned that up to 6.8 million people could be affected by the earthquakes. "It is already clear that displacement will increase as people seek a safe place," stated Amy Pope, IOM Director General.
Source: BBC Mundo
Experts classify this event as a "seismic doublet", which occurs when two earthquakes of similar magnitude strike a region within a short period. The June 24 earthquakes had epicenters near San Felipe, Yaracuy state, approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Caracas.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
