Twin earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck the northern state of La Guaira and the capital Caracas on Wednesday, killing more than 1,700 people and causing nearly 800 building collapses. An aftershock measuring 4.6 occurred on Monday, shaking the same regions but causing no additional damage.

Tens of thousands of people remained missing after the quakes. In La Guaira, residents used crowbars, mallets and pickaxes to dig through rubble while waiting for equipment. Local volunteers and international teams continued search operations in Caratia La Mar and El Junquito. A 21‑year‑old man was rescued after being trapped for more than 100 hours in Caraballeda by teams from Venezuela, Mexico and El Salvador, according to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. He is receiving medical care and rescuers say they will continue operations to save more lives.

Delcy Rodríguez, interim president, said the earthquakes represented the most brutal natural catastrophe in Venezuela's history and announced a commission chaired by her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, to assess damage and to classify homes for return using a traffic‑light system. She said temporary camps were being set up for displaced people.

More than 25,000 emergency workers, police officers and soldiers were deployed to assist affected populations, according to Rodríguez.

The United Nations reported more than 500 aftershocks and that at least 2,500 structures were affected, with many fully collapsed. The UN is acquiring 10,000 body bags as part of its rescue effort, and the death toll is expected to rise.

International aid has been pledged: the United States committed more than $300 million, an increase from an earlier $150 million commitment, to provide medical care, food, water, sanitation, shelter, protection and logistics. The U.S. military reopened the Port of La Guaira, with the USS Fort Lauderdale docked to support amphibious deliveries. The Netherlands pledged a vessel with emergency supplies, and China announced almost $15 million in assistance.

Residents reported that rescue efforts were hampered by limited equipment and delayed deployment of heavy machinery. Ruben Rojas, a 32‑year‑old electrician, said civil protection personnel lacked equipment and the government did not provide it, forcing residents to work with their hands. Carolyn Zerpa, 39, said she shifted from rescue to recovery to locate family remains. Zuly Marín, a La Guaira resident, said the slow response was exacerbated by the country's economic situation.

The La Guaira port in Venezuela is now operational after repairs and is being used to deliver earthquake relief supplies, the US military said Monday. The port, one of two main ports in the country, is being used by the USS Fort Lauderdale to move needed aid to areas affected by the recent 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that killed more than 1,700 people and left tens of thousands missing, according to the US Southern Command.

The earthquakes struck near the Caribbean coast last week, damaging buildings, collapsing structures and damaging Venezuela's main airport. The port had been non‑operational while repair crews worked around the clock, a senior US administration official said earlier on Monday.

The US State Department announced a pledge of more than $300 million in assistance, up from a previous $150 million commitment, to provide emergency medical care, food, water and sanitation, shelter, protection and logistics. The funds will be channeled through partner organizations including Samaritan's Purse, Catholic Relief Services, the International Organization for Migration, the World Food Programme and the Red Cross, the department said. Four urban search‑and‑rescue teams, comprising more than 300 first responders and nearly two dozen search dogs, have been deployed to Venezuela.

The assistance comes as relations between the United States and Venezuela have improved since US forces captured former president Nicolas Maduro in January and the Trump administration began coordinating with an interim government led by Delcy Rodriguez.

The port is expected to remain a key conduit for aid as the region continues to assess the scale of the disaster and coordinate recovery efforts.

Venezuelan authorities and international responders continued search and rescue operations on Monday, five days after twin earthquakes struck the La Guaira region, leaving more than 1,700 dead and tens of thousands displaced. The first 72 hours after a natural disaster are considered critical for saving lives, but survival can be extended if people have access to food and water.

A 4.6 magnitude aftershock occurred on Monday, 27 kilometers north of Caraballeda, according to the United States Geological Survey, with no reported damage. The government reported that electricity had been restored to 90% of the hardest-hit area and that 15 temporary displacement camps had been set up.

Relief organizations say the response has been hampered by limited resources and skepticism about official casualty figures, which many observers say understate the true scale of damage. The United Nations estimates that up to 6.8 million of Venezuela’s nearly 30 million residents may be affected, while the Venezuelan Red Cross expects to address the needs of at least 300,000 people over the next two years.

Dozens of countries have offered assistance, and the United States has deployed 300 first responders and sent two dozen C-17 aircraft daily with supplies, providing more than $300 million in financial support. A senior State Department official said the U.S. military is also helping repair the port in La Guaira and manage air traffic after damage to the control tower at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas.

Rescue efforts have included individuals such as Jean Sosa, a miner deported from the United States who has been digging through rubble with a pickaxe. He reported rescuing 20 people alive despite a lack of equipment.

The government has faced criticism for restricting media access to the affected area, citing the need to reduce noise during rescue operations, while the press union urged the authorities to allow journalists to report timely information. The full extent of building damage remains unclear, with a preliminary NASA assessment identifying more than 58,000 structures potentially damaged or collapsed.

An explosion at a residential building on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla in Monaco injured three people early Tuesday, two of whom were seriously injured. The blast occurred shortly before 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT). Minister of State Christophe Mirmand said the device appeared to contain bolts and pellets and that police were treating the incident as a possible attack. A video surveillance system captured a suspect fleeing toward France, and more than 100 police and emergency personnel responded to the scene. Prince Albert II described the incident as a serious crime and said all relevant state services were cooperating with French authorities. The three injured individuals were taken to a hospital in the nearby French city of Nice. Police continue to investigate the cause of the explosion and the identity of the suspect. Officials said they would provide an update on Tuesday local time.

President Cyril Ramaphosa warned anti‑migrant demonstrators to hold peaceful protests before an unofficial deadline for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa. Tens of thousands of undocumented migrants, many from other African countries, have faced increasing hostility amid longstanding xenophobic tensions, with more than three million documented foreign nationals residing in the country. The deadline, which is not formally legislated, prompted thousands of migrants to remain in temporary camps while authorities prepared for possible deportations. Ramaphosa said the right to protest does not include intimidation, threats, vandalism or violence and emphasized that migrants contribute to the economy, education and society. Police have prohibited traditional weapons such as shields and sticks, which some Zulu groups typically carry, to prevent clashes. The government reported more than 12,000 immigrants have been deported since protests began earlier this year, and about 3,500 foreigners have volunteered to depart. Neighbouring countries including Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zimbabwe are arranging repatriation flights and bus services. Some officials say a small number of Nigerians returned without proper documentation, a claim disputed by Nigeria. Ramaphosa urged citizens to treat all Africans with solidarity, stating, “We are one. Africa must remain Africa.” The situation remains tense as authorities monitor planned marches in Durban, Johannesburg and other cities while the deadline approaches without a clear policy framework for immigration reform.

Police are searching for a suspect after an explosion in a residential building in Monaco on Monday evening that wounded three people, including a 13‑year‑old. The blast occurred at about 9 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT) in a building located in the principality, a microstate on the French Riviera known for its affluent residents and luxury yachts. Three individuals were injured: a couple in their 50s or 60s suffered life‑threatening injuries, and a teenager who is believed to be related to the couple sustained less serious wounds, according to Monaco’s Minister of State Christophe Mirmand. Ukrainian oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev, who has been under sanctions from Kyiv since December 2023, was also among those wounded, the Associated Press reported. The explosive device appeared to contain bolts and buckshot, Mirmand said. A suspect left a bag or package in the building’s lobby before fleeing, a source close to the investigation told AFP, and surveillance footage showed a man dropping a backpack near the entrance shortly before the blast. Prince Albert II described the incident as a “heinous crime” and said it was “a shock to the entire Monegasque community.” French interior minister Laurent Nunez’s aide said police were working to locate the perpetrator, who has fled. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not identified a motive for the explosion.