More than 3,500 dead after earthquake in Venezuela – number of missing remains unclear

The state of La Guaira and the coastal city of the same name, north of the capital Caracas, were particularly hard hit. In the state of La Guaira, numerous buildings lie in ruins. Nearly 200 houses collapsed completely during the quakes.

La Guaira as the center of destruction

The authorities continued to speak of more than 16,700 injured. 16,740 people were reported injured. In addition, according to government figures, more than 17,000 people were left homeless, most of them in the coastal city of La Guaira.

While rescue workers continue to search through the rubble, the scale of the earthquake disaster is becoming clearer. International rescue teams ended their search for survivors eleven days after the quakes, in early July.

Survivors and aid organizations had accused the authorities of being sluggish and inefficient. Heavy equipment for clearing rubble is reportedly lacking, which is why rescue operations are also being carried out by civilians and foreign helpers.

Rescue under difficult conditions

Thousands of emergency personnel from Venezuela and other countries are deployed. Nevertheless, aid workers and those affected complain that there are too few heavy machines to clear the debris. Due to destroyed roads and traffic jams, volunteer motorcyclists, coordinated by influencers and motorcycle clubs, are taking over the supply of areas that are difficult to reach.

Many of the displaced are reportedly living on the streets or seeking refuge in parks. The shelters are insufficient to accommodate the number of homeless people left without shelter following the collapse of residential buildings.

AFP reporters reported from the cemetery in La Guaira, where on Sunday the bodies of 159 unidentified victims were buried in two long rows. All unknown dead buried there bear the date of death June 24, 2026.

Unknown dead at the La Guaira cemetery

The graves have been numbered and marked with a code, said local resident Eli Zavala. Unidentified victims were photographed before burial so that relatives could later identify them based on the portrait.

The authorities of the South American country have so far avoided commenting on how many people are still missing. The confirmed death toll now stands at 3,535, as Jorge Rodriguez announced on X.

Missing persons figures remain unclear

According to United Nations estimates, however, the number of missing could be as high as 50,000. Other estimates put the figure closer to 10,000. Various estimates have ranged from 10,000 to 50,000 people of whom no trace remains.

The population accuses the government of having responded inadequately to the severe quakes. Criticism is directed both at the speed of the aid operations and at the lack of transparency regarding the number of missing persons.

ZDF reporter Christian Semm accompanied helpers searching for survivors in the disaster zone. Among the relatives searching is a woman named Zuly, who is looking for her son in the Catia la Mar district.

Families continue to search for relatives

"I don't know what day it is anymore. You go crazy, but I'm not leaving here because I know he is here.", said Zuly. Her case is representative of many families who have been waiting for days for news of their loved ones.

This news was broadcast on 07.07.2026 on the Deutschlandfunk program. The situation in the affected areas remains unclear, while the authorities continue to provide no definitive information on the total number of missing persons.