A mother has died shielding her daughter from falling debris during a powerful earthquake that struck Venezuela’s coastal region on Tuesday, as British search and rescue teams were hailed for their rapid response and professionalism. The 7.2-magnitude quake, centred near the city of Cumaná, has claimed at least 127 lives, according to the latest official figures, with hundreds more injured and an unknown number trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
The victim, identified locally as Maria Torres, 34, was found embracing her six-year-old daughter, Sofia, who survived with minor injuries. Rescue workers discovered the pair under concrete slabs in the rubble of their apartment block. The child was extricated after a six-hour operation and is now receiving medical treatment.
International response has been swift. A 54-strong team from the UK’s International Search and Rescue (ISAR) landed in Caracas within 12 hours of the disaster, bringing specialist cutting equipment, sniffer dogs, and medical supplies. They have been working alongside Venezuelan civil protection units in the worst-affected areas. A spokesman for the British Embassy in Caracas said the team had already helped free 11 survivors from collapsed structures.
The earthquake struck at 9:47 a.m. local time, catching many residents in their homes or at work. The tremor was felt as far away as Bogotá and caused landslides that cut off roads to several remote villages. Power and communications remain down in parts of Sucre state, complicating relief efforts.
Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, declared a state of emergency and deployed the military to assist. In a televised address, he thanked the British government for its assistance, calling the rescue teams “heroes”. International organisations including the Red Cross and the UN have also mobilised. However, the disaster response is complicated by Venezuela’s ongoing economic and political crisis, which has left hospitals short of medicines and equipment.
The UK’s Foreign Secretary described the rescue effort as a “vital demonstration of British solidarity” and confirmed further aid would be dispatched. The ISAR team is expected to remain for at least two weeks.
For the Torres family, the tragedy is personal. Maria’s husband, Carlos, told reporters through tears: “She gave her life for our daughter. I am grateful for the British team who saved Sofia. They didn’t give up.”
As aftershocks continue to rattle the region, the focus remains on finding survivors. But for every life saved, there is a story of loss. The earthquake has exposed again the fragility of infrastructure in a nation already teetering on the brink. The international response offers a rare moment of cooperation, but the road to recovery will be long.
