‘All Hands on Deck’: UN Mobilizes Massive Response After Deadly 7.5-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Venezuela
GENEVA / CARACAS — The United Nations has launched a full-scale humanitarian mobilization to support Venezuela after a pair of devastating earthquakes—the strongest to hit the country in more than 125 years—reduced buildings to rubble, killed hundreds, and left thousands injured. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher warned Thursday that the disaster demands a “massive collective effort” from the international community, as rescuers race against time to find survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures.
“We are fully mobilised to support the people of Venezuela following the deadly and devastating earthquakes that hit the country yesterday,” Fletcher said in a statement from Geneva. He confirmed that the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is coordinating the rapid deployment of Urban Search and Rescue Teams from across the international community through the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG).
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At least 164 people have been confirmed dead and nearly 1,000 injured after the powerful tremors struck northern Venezuela late Wednesday within less than one minute of each other. The death toll is expected to rise as search operations continue, with many still reported missing in the worst-hit areas.
Two Tremors, One Catastrophe
According to the US Geological Survey, the first earthquake measured 7.2 on the Richter Scale, with its epicentre near the city of San Felipe—home to some 220,000 people. The second quake, which followed almost immediately, registered at 7.5 magnitude and was reportedly the strongest tremor to hit Venezuela in more than 125 years.
The seismic double-punch caused widespread destruction across several states, particularly in the capital Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira, where buildings collapsed and critical infrastructure was severely damaged. Authorities have reported major disruptions to electricity, water, telecommunications, and transport systems. The Caracas Metro and rail services remain suspended, and Maiquetia International Airport has been closed due to damage.
“Hospitals are operating under mass casualty protocols, and temporary shelters have been set up for displaced populations,” OCHA reported. In the hardest-hit areas, search-and-rescue operations are continuing around the clock.
A Humanitarian Crisis Deepened
Speaking from Caracas, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Gianluca Rampolla has been in constant contact with the interim President, Delcy Rodríguez, to assess urgent needs. The government has declared a state of emergency, and a central coordination hub has been established in Caracas to manage the response.
Fletcher emphasized that the earthquakes have struck a country already reeling from a protracted humanitarian crisis. “Even before these earthquakes, nearly 8 million people in Venezuela were in need of humanitarian support,” he said. “This disaster risks deepening existing vulnerabilities”.
The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) has already indicated it is prepared to provide assistance, with Acting Executive Director Carl Skau expressing solidarity: “My thoughts this morning are with the victims of the earthquakes in Venezuela. All our solidarity with the Venezuelan people. WFP is prepared to provide assistance and support response efforts to quickly reach communities”.
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A Global Outpouring of Support
Fletcher welcomed the many offers of international solidarity, which have poured in from across the region and beyond. In a recorded message, he detailed the breadth of the response:
“I’m really grateful for the solidarity already. Today we’ve been in touch with teams from the US, from the Dominican Republic, from El Salvador, the Swiss are deploying tonight, from Qatar. We’ve got offers from Mexico, China, Brazil, the Caribbean, Syria…the UK, the Russian Federation, Spain, and many more are reviewing their support”.
He also delivered a direct message to those affected: “To those whose loved ones are currently under the rubble, know that we are going to do our best to make sure that help gets to you and your loved ones. We’re going to move mountains here”.
The international search and rescue teams—many of them UN-certified specialists—are expected to arrive in the coming hours to reinforce local efforts. The Netherlands has already announced a €2 million aid package and deployment of rescue personnel, dogs, and equipment.
The Challenge Ahead
With a vast area affected and critical infrastructure compromised, the logistical challenges are immense. Hospitals are overwhelmed, fuel supplies for generators are uncertain, and the closure of Maiquetia International Airport will complicate the delivery of heavy equipment and supplies.
Fletcher stressed that the coming days will require a “massive collective effort to support the Government-led response and help communities”. He has surged a rapid response team to reinforce the OCHA presence in the country and is working with authorities to identify priority needs, including search for the missing, medical support, and emergency relief.
Sustained international support for humanitarian organizations operating on the ground remains “essential and urgent,” he added.
A Race Against Time
For the people of Venezuela, the earthquakes have turned a deepening social and economic crisis into a life-or-death emergency. The nation, which had already been grappling with the largest migratory displacement in the region’s recent history, now faces the added burden of burying its dead and housing its suddenly homeless.
As the sun rose over Caracas on Thursday, families gathered outside pancaked apartment blocks, waiting for news. Rescue workers using sniffer dogs and listening devices searched for faint signs of life. In La Guaira, entire neighborhoods were reported flattened, with the true scale of the tragedy still unknown.
“We’re going to do our best,” Fletcher said. “And we need all hands on deck.”
SOURCES / INPUTS
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