Venezuela aftershock jolts rescuers as survivor search continues

Laguaira,UPDATED: Jun 29, 2026 17:58 IST

A strong aftershock hit Venezuela early on Monday, days after last week’s back-to-back earthquakes, as residents ran out of buildings and rescue teams continued searching through the rubble for survivors. The latest tremor came as emergency workers and civilians kept up rescue efforts despite the passing of the most critical window for locating people alive.

The aftershock struck at 7.01 am local time and was centred about 27 km north of Caraballeda on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast. The United States Geological Survey measured it at 4.6 on the Richter scale, while Colombia’s geological survey put it at 5.1. Jorge Rodrguez, leader of the Venezuelan Assembly, said there were no immediate reports of fresh damage.

The quake sent residents in Caracas rushing into the streets. “Here we are again, back in the street. I don’t know when we’ll have a moment of true peace,” said Concepcion Hernandez, 51, after evacuating her apartment building in the Chacao municipality of the capital.

Monday’s tremor also shook the badly affected port city of La Guaira, where local and international rescue teams have been racing against time since the twin earthquakes struck the northern state five days ago.

The government has reported 1,450 deaths from the earthquakes, while criticism has grown among Venezuelans who say the official response has been inadequate and has been overshadowed by civilian-led efforts to pull people out from collapsed buildings. Thousands more have been reported missing.

Even as the chances of finding survivors alive fell with each passing hour, rescuers continued to pull some people out of the debris, giving anxious families some hope. The first 48 to 72 hours after a natural disaster are considered crucial for rescue efforts, although survival can last longer if people have access to food and water.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said late on Sunday that the search for survivors would continue even after that time period had passed. The government said more than 2,600 rescue workers from around the world had arrived with trained search dogs and machinery.

The latest aftershock added to fear and uncertainty in Venezuela, where rescue efforts were still under way after last week’s deadly twin earthquakes left at least 1,450 people dead and thousands missing.

With PTI Inputs

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