The scale of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Venezuela has intensified dramatically in the past 24 hours, as a series of powerful aftershocks compounded the devastation wrought by Monday’s 7.8-magnitude earthquake. Officials in Caracas now estimate that more than 2,000 people have been killed, with thousands more injured or missing.
The city’s already fragile infrastructure has collapsed: hospitals are overwhelmed, power grids are down, and water supplies have been contaminated. Rescue efforts, hampered by damaged roads and a lack of heavy machinery, are proceeding at a painstakingly slow pace. The Maduro government, criticised for its slow initial response, has declared a state of emergency and appealed for international assistance.
However, political tensions with neighbouring countries and the United States may complicate the delivery of aid. The earthquake, one of the strongest to hit South America in decades, has struck a nation already reeling from hyperinflation, fuel shortages, and political unrest. For Caracas, a city of six million people, this disaster represents the darkest chapter in its modern history.
The international community is watching closely as the death toll continues to rise and the window for saving lives narrows.
