Emergency workers are combing through rubble in Caracas after two powerful back-to-back earthquakes devastated the Venezuelan capital on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 [1, 2].

The disaster has paralyzed the city's infrastructure and created a humanitarian crisis, as rescuers struggle to reach those trapped beneath collapsed buildings while the main airport remains closed [2, 3].

Casualty reports vary across agencies. NBC News said at least 188 died [1], while the Associated Press, Toronto Star, and Yahoo said at least 32 died [2]. Some accounts suggest thousands are feared dead as the scale of the destruction becomes clearer [5].

Injuries are similarly reported in different ranges. NBC News said at least 1,520 were injured [1], and the Associated Press said around 1,500 were injured [2]. Other reports from Yahoo said the number of injured was at least 700 [4].

"Rescuers are working around the clock to find anyone still trapped," Venezuelan Interior Minister Néstor Reverol said [2].

Survivors described a scene of chaos and terror. One unnamed resident said, "We hugged each other and ran" [5]. Another resident of Caracas said the floor kept moving and they thought the building would collapse at any second [6].

The earthquakes caused severe structural damage across the city, prompting large-scale rescue operations to locate survivors among the debris [1, 5]. The closure of the main airport has complicated the arrival of aid and the coordination of emergency responses [2, 3].

“"Rescuers are working around the clock to find anyone still trapped,"”

The disparity in casualty figures highlights the difficulty of coordinating real-time data during a large-scale urban disaster. The closure of the primary airport further isolates the affected population, potentially slowing the arrival of international specialized search-and-rescue teams and medical supplies needed to treat the thousands of injured residents.