Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said she has faith that rescuers will find survivors following the deadly earthquakes that struck Venezuela this week [1].

The disaster has triggered a massive humanitarian crisis, leaving thousands injured and hundreds dead as the government coordinates with international aid agencies to locate those trapped in the rubble.

The earthquakes, which occurred on Wednesday, registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 [6]. The seismic activity caused widespread panic on the streets of Caracas [4]. While reports on the death toll vary, figures range from at least 235 [5] to at least 920 people [3].

Casualty reports for the injured also show a range of estimates. Some sources report more than 3,300 people [2] or 3,360 people [1] injured, while other reports place the number at 4,300 [5]. The U.S. Geological Survey has indicated a 44% chance that fatalities could exceed 10,000 [6].

Rodríguez said she has confidence in the ongoing search operations because international rescue teams have arrived in the country [4]. She said, "I have faith rescuers will find survivors" [2].

The UN aid chief said the current window of time is "crucial" for teams searching through the rubble [3]. This phase of the operation is critical for maximizing the number of lives saved as the window for survival decreases over time.

Relief efforts continue to scale up as teams navigate the damaged infrastructure of the affected regions to reach isolated communities [4].

“"I have faith rescuers will find survivors."”

The discrepancy in casualty numbers suggests a chaotic early reporting phase often seen in large-scale natural disasters. However, the USGS probability of high fatalities indicates that the long-term death toll may rise significantly as rescue teams reach more remote areas and uncover more victims from the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes.