Death toll from Venezuela earthquakes rises to at least 235, with thousands reported missing

The decease toll from the catastrophic bid of earthquakes that rocked Venezuela this week has risen to astatine slightest 235, with astatine slightest 4,300 injured and thousands much missing arsenic U.S. subject enactment has arrived successful Caracas to assistance coordinate alleviation efforts. 

The fig of dead is expected to ascent Friday following back-to-back magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that deed bluish Venezuela connected Wednesday night, astir 120 miles westbound of Caracas. 

Venezuelan authorities TV has broadcast dramatic images of rescues, including a pistillate who was trapped nether a cement slab, lone a bare ft poking retired earlier crews managed to get her retired alive, The Associated Press reported. The injured were seen being pulled retired of the rubble covered successful particulate and blood, among them children and animals. 

U.S. Southern Command said overnight that U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Jarrard arrived successful Caracas connected Thursday "to oversee Department of War enactment to Venezuela earthquake alleviation efforts."

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PLEDGES $150M IN AID, DEPLOYS NAVY WARSHIPS AFTER DEADLY VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKES

Neighbors transportation a antheral rescued from the rubble of a collapsed gathering successful La Guaira, Venezuela, connected Thursday, June 25, 2026, the time aft earthquakes struck the area. (Pedro Mattey/AP Photo)

SOUTHCOM’s announcement comes arsenic the Trump medication has activated a government-wide humanitarian response, pledging $150 cardinal successful assistance and deploying U.S. Navy warships to assistance successful life-saving rescue operations.  

"Maj. Gen. Jarrard is serving arsenic the elder U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) authoritative connected the crushed and is moving intimately with partners to plan, coordinate, and nonstop the U.S. military’s unparalleled logistical and operational capabilities to enactment the rapid, life-saving question of effect personnel, equipment, and humanitarian assistance into affected areas," SOUTHCOM said successful a statement, noting that Venezuela’s interim authorities — led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez — formally requested American assistance. 

"Assigned U.S. subject forces volition utilize fixed and rotor helping craft to supply specialized mobility services and assistance U.S. Government personnel, hunt and rescue teams, and partners assessing harm and delivering captious life-saving assistance," SOUTHCOM added.

PLAYERS, FANS FLEE STADIUM AS POWERFUL EARTHQUAKES STRIKE DURING VENEZUELA BASEBALL GAME

Responders hunt for victims successful a demolished gathering successful Caracas, Venezuela, aft a magnitude 7.2 earthquake and a 7.5 aftershock struck the portion connected June 24, 2026. (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

The coastal portion of La Guaira, which is located northbound of Caracas, suffered immoderate of the heaviest harm and casualties. The country’s main airdrome is determination and was closed owed to damage, complicating assistance efforts. 

Retired schoolteacher Juan Alberto Mendaño climbed done wreckage successful La Guaira and past a assemblage erstwhile helium spotted a pistillate who was trapped and signaling with her manus for help, according to the AP. 

"May God rescue her arsenic rapidly arsenic possible," Mendaño reportedly said. "When we heard the scream, determination was thing we could do." 

Venezuelan authorities said they were diverting rescue teams from different parts of the state to La Guaira. 

Rodríguez besides appealed to businesses Thursday to marque dense operation instrumentality disposable for rescue operations.

Patients prevarication extracurricular a infirmary evacuated aft it was damaged successful an earthquake successful Catia La Mar, Venezuela, connected June 25, 2026. (Pedro Mattey/AP)

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"We anticipation to rescue arsenic galore surviving radical arsenic possible," Rodríguez added, referring to La Guaira arsenic a "disaster zone." 

Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch and The Associated Press contributed to this report.