The death toll from the catastrophic earthquake that struck Venezuela on Monday has risen to 920, with more than 4,500 people injured and an estimated 200,000 displaced, according to the country’s civil protection authority. The 7.8 magnitude quake, centred near the city of Barquisimeto, has also triggered landslides and aftershocks, complicating rescue efforts.
British search and rescue teams, deployed under the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), have taken the lead in coordinating the international response, with specialised units from the UK’s Fire and Rescue Service and the charity UK-Med arriving in the affected region within 24 hours. Their expertise in urban search and rescue, medical triage, and structural assessment has been critical in extracting survivors from collapsed buildings, including a school and a hospital in the state of Lara. The British government has pledged £15 million in emergency aid, while the Royal Air Force has airlifted 40 tonnes of shelter and medical supplies to Caracas.
The United Nations has activated its disaster response mechanisms, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched an emergency appeal for $50 million. The Venezuelan government, grappling with a severe economic crisis and political instability, has accepted international assistance but has warned of potential delays in aid distribution due to bureaucratic impediments. Amid the devastation, there are growing concerns about the safety of survivors in makeshift camps, particularly the spread of waterborne diseases.
British rescue teams have prioritised the search for the missing, working alongside Venezuelan military and civilian volunteers. The operation is expected to continue for at least another week as aftershocks persist. The earthquake is the deadliest to hit Venezuela in over a century, and the full scale of the disaster may not be known for weeks.
