Rescue efforts and survivor accounts continued to emerge in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that struck Venezuela, leaving thousands homeless in a country already grappling with prolonged economic and political challenges. The disaster has prompted an urgent humanitarian response amid fears the death toll could be significant.

Among those affected is a young woman who, after 12 hours of silence, was finally able to communicate with her family. Living alone, she described feelings of intense fear and shock but counted herself fortunate for having survived without losing any relatives or her home. Her experience underscores the widespread trauma shared by many who witnessed the loss of loved ones and property.

Humanitarian organizations are actively involved in the relief efforts. Cinzia Desantis, founder of the London-based charity Healing Venezuela, reported that a 75-year-old relative had been missing in Caracas but was subsequently located. Desantis detailed the challenges faced by medical personnel, with hospital staff struggling to track missing family members amidst the chaos. The charity’s junior doctors are providing duty coverage and support at partner hospitals, while distribution of potable water and installation of water plants in affected medical facilities are underway to meet urgent needs.

Dramatic video footage released on Thursday showed emergency teams rescuing survivors from the rubble. One such rescue involved Graciela Mora, who remained conscious as she was pulled from debris. She recounted how she had clung to a door frame during the collapse, breaking her finger in the process, and described reaching for the hand of another person trapped with her. Her ordeal highlighted the harrowing moments experienced by those caught inside collapsed buildings.

The earthquake struck a nation already weakened by decades of instability, exacerbating the plight of thousands now displaced. The U.S. Geological Survey indicated a 44 percent likelihood that fatalities could surpass 10,000, a figure that underscores the scale of the humanitarian crisis.

Experts have also pointed to the wider political implications of the disaster. Dr. Annette Idler, associate professor at Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government, described the earthquake as not only a humanitarian tragedy but a geopolitical challenge that could influence Venezuela’s political future and its relationship with the United States. While U.S. support was quickly announced, the crucial question remains whether Venezuela can pursue a recovery process led locally or if it will become seen as dependent on external decisions. This dynamic is poised to affect the legitimacy and public confidence in the country’s interim government as it navigates both immediate relief and long-term reconstruction efforts.