Miraculous 72-Hour Rescue
Spanish UME Rescues Survivor After 72 Hours Trapped Under Rubble in La Guaira
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A team from Spain's Military Emergencies Unit (UME) rescued a person alive on Saturday after they spent 72 hours buried under the rubble of a collapsed building in La Guaira, Venezuela. The survivor was found in the Vistamar residential area, days after two massive earthquakes — magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 — struck northern Venezuela within 40 seconds of each other on June 24, 2026, according to Levante EMV.
The twin quakes are the strongest to hit Venezuela since 1900. The official death toll stands at 920, but the UN estimates the final figure could reach between 10,000 and 100,000. Around 50,000 people remain unaccounted for nationwide, according to El Periódico.
Spain Sends 59 Soldiers and Eight Dogs to Venezuela
Spain deployed 59 UME soldiers, two Army engineers, and eight canine units to Venezuela after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called Acting President Delcy Rodríguez to offer aid on June 25. The contingent flew to El Libertador Air Base in Valencia, Venezuela, because the main Maiquetía International Airport was shut due to structural damage, according to Información.
Spain also sent 40 firefighters from Madrid's ERICAM urban rescue team. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares confirmed the rescue on Saturday evening and said 133 Spanish nationals are still missing. Five Spanish citizens have been confirmed dead, and 14 others are located but still trapped, according to La Opinión de Málaga.
A Double Earthquake That Pancaked Over 100 Buildings
The two quakes hit the same northern coastal zone just seconds apart. Geologist William Barnhart explained that the "double-tap" nature of the strikes — hitting two separate fault lines almost at once — stopped buildings from settling. Instead, they collapsed flat, a process known as "pancaking." Over 100 large structures in La Guaira alone were totally destroyed, including the historic Edwards Hotel, according to El Correo Web.
Residents described scenes similar to the 1999 Vargas Tragedy, but said the structural damage in 2026 is far worse. Many survivors in the first 48 hours were pulled out by neighbors using bare hands and basic tools. State aid was not visible in those critical early hours, according to Diario de Mallorca.
Venezuela's Political Crisis Complicates the Emergency Response
The disaster struck during an unstable political moment. In January 2026, Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president after Nicolás Maduro was taken into U.S. custody during an operation called "Operation Absolute Resolution." Rodríguez declared a State of Emergency and militarized La Guaira to manage aid. She said: "The process of rescuing those who are alive is our absolute priority. Venezuela is not alone," according to La Opinión de Murcia.
Over 17 countries have sent rescue teams, including France, Mexico, El Salvador, the Netherlands, and the United States. The U.S. deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), marking a rare moment of cooperation with the new Venezuelan transitional government. The Netherlands released 2 million euros for immediate relief, according to LNE.
Millions Displaced as UN Warns of a New Migration Wave
Up to 6.8 million people have been affected by the earthquakes. Many have lost their homes and their incomes. The UN's migration agency warns that a new wave of people leaving Venezuela could begin soon if reconstruction does not start quickly. Long-term rebuilding could take a decade given the country's deep economic and political instability, according to El Día.
Spain's aid agency AECID has released a multi-million euro relief package. Independent Venezuelan media such as VPItv report that many residents still feel abandoned, saying "Estamos solos" — "We are alone." Government-run channels focus instead on what they call "miracle rescues" and claim 60% of La Guaira's electrical grid was restored within 72 hours of the quakes, according to El Correo Gallego.
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