Venezuela Quake Death Toll Tops 900 as Aftershocks Continue

The death toll from Wednesday's twin earthquakes in Venezuela rose to at least 920 by Friday, with more than 51,000 people still missing, according to the Associated Press. Rescue crews in La Guaira, one of the worst-hit states, continued digging through collapsed buildings with shovels, heavy machinery, and bare hands on Saturday, racing the 72-hour window that humanitarian agencies say is critical for finding survivors.

The twin quakes, measured at 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck the same fault region near Caracas. Feliciano De Santis, president of the Venezuelan Geological Society, told Le Monde the event resembles the devastating 1902 earthquake. "A century apart, the epicenters were in the same region. The fault there is very linear, which means a rupture in one segment can trigger another, with nothing to stop it," De Santis said.

More than 190 aftershocks have been recorded since Wednesday, though most have been imperceptible. De Santis said two strong aftershocks of magnitude 5 are likely, based on his experience. The energy released on Wednesday was equivalent to 20 to 30 atomic bombs, he noted.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said on state television Saturday that more than 14,000 military and police personnel had been deployed. Access to affected areas is now restricted to those with special authorization. One runway at Simón Bolívar International Airport, which serves Caracas, was operational as of Saturday, according to a senior U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity.