Venezuela Earthquake Toll Passes 589, May Climb Into Thousands, Airport Closure Hampers Aid

The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has more than doubled in the past day, with officials now confirming at least 589 people killed and nearly 3,000 injured , as rescue crews raced against time to pull survivors from the rubble more than 48 hours after the disaster struck.

The quakes, a powerful foreshock rapidly followed by an even stronger mainshock, magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 striking roughly 39 seconds apart near San Felipe in Yaracuy state , sent violent shaking through Caracas and La Guaira . As many as 138 aftershocks have since rattled the region, officials said, hampering rescue work.

The U.S. Geological Survey has warned the toll could climb sharply: its predictive modeling put the odds at 44% that fatalities exceed 10,000 , and 30% that they surpass 100,000 , prompting the agency to issue a "red alert" for shaking-related deaths and economic losses.

Civilian volunteers and emergency workers continued combing through collapsed buildings across Caracas on Friday, even as hope of finding more survivors alive began to fade. One volunteer described pausing to call out into the wreckage and listen for any sign of life. An AP witness in Caracas's Altamira neighborhood described a 22-story building flattened entirely, with rescuers and family members climbing the debris while calling out relatives' names. A woman who escaped a collapsed building elsewhere in the capital said the walls cracked instantly and the stairwell filled with smoke so thick she couldn't see her way down.

Jorge Rodríguez , president of Venezuela's National Assembly, said roughly 200 people remained trapped beneath collapsed buildings, with about 250 structures destroyed or damaged. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a nationwide state of emergency , ordering the closure of Caracas's international airport, suspending metro and rail service, and shutting schools for the rest of the week. She has also set up a $200 million reconstruction fund for hospitals, homes and other collapsed infrastructure.

Thousands of people who lost their homes spent the night outdoors, sheltering in tents or makeshift beds. A website tracking missing persons has been overwhelmed: it listed more than 50,000 people as unaccounted for , though it reported roughly 8,000 had since been located. Brazil, China, Italy and Spain have all reported citizens among the dead and missing.

Damage to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía continues to slow aid delivery. Civil aviation authorities closed the airport's primary runway, citing cracked pavement, until at least July 2 , with humanitarian and rescue flights rerouted to alternate sites such as the El Libertador air base in Maracay.

International help has poured in regardless. Mexico has taken a lead role, deploying elite military rescue and medical units to support search efforts, while Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Panama and Uruguay have also pledged assistance. A Fairfax County, Virginia , search-and-rescue team and a second from Los Angeles County were activated as part of the U.S. response, though logistics remained uncertain given the damaged airport. The State Department announced $150 million for aid groups, including the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, while U.S. Southern Command said it was surging military aircraft, ships and personnel to speed relief. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said the first of three planes carrying personnel, equipment and supplies for Venezuela was already en route.

In Doral, Florida , and Houston's " Katyzuela " community, donation drives launched by Venezuelan diaspora families have intensified, with volunteers packing medical supplies and essentials despite uncertainty over how quickly shipments can reach the country.