A 7.4‑magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, killing at least 265 people and leaving 500 missing, according to the national government. The disaster prompted an emergency response that began within an hour, as newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella announced a command post to coordinate rescue efforts. In contrast, Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez addressed the nation nearly four hours after the June 24 tremors that killed 32 people and left many unaccounted for. Colombia operates under a democratic system with institutions that have continued to function despite recent political transitions. Venezuela is governed by a ruling party that has faced economic decline and personnel shortages. The two quakes affected densely populated areas, but Colombia’s impact was primarily rural and occurred during daylight, whereas Venezuela’s struck the coastal city of La Guaira at night. Rescue teams in Colombia deployed cranes, excavators and drones to search for survivors. Officials sent personnel to towns such as Quibdo, Cali and Pereira. De la Espriella visited affected zones within 36 hours and appointed ministers to support regional authorities. The United Nations chief in Colombia, María José Torres Macho, said the country’s institutions continued to operate despite the recent change in presidency. In Venezuela, the government relied on domestic volunteers and limited foreign assistance, rejecting most international rescue teams except those from the United States. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello provided damage reports before the president’s televised address, and the official casualty count of 32 did not include victims in La Guaira. An independent database listed more than 29,000 people as unaccounted for weeks after the events, while the government updated the death toll weekly. The contrasting responses illustrate how political systems and institutional capacity shape disaster outcomes, and the full extent of casualties and missing persons remains uncertain in both nations.