Beens said he began training Tsunami after developing a close bond with the dog following the death of his previous operational canine. "He is my companion, he is part of my life. Tsunami changed my world ," Beens said.

Tsunami has also taken part in international rescue missions. In 2023, he was deployed to Syria and Turkey following devastating earthquakes , where Beens said he helped locate nine people alive beneath the rubble.

The dog was later deployed following this year's earthquakes in Venezuela, where rapid response helped search teams locate 26 people . "Forty minutes after the earthquake we were already entering the rubble," Beens said.

The trainer credited Tsunami's abilities partly to the intelligence and problem-solving skills of Border Collies.

Beens now plans to retire Tsunami from rescue operations as two Border Collie puppies prepare to join the K-SAR ECID team.

Footage recorded on Thursday showed Beyli with his owners, 11-year-old Victoria and her father, Jairo, in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state.

Victoria survived the earthquakes but lost her mother and grandmother. Although Beyli's eyesight had been affected by his injuries and he could not recognise her at first, he reacted when he heard her voice.

Jairo said the family was not present when rescuers found the dog on July 23.

"It was on the 23rd [of July] that they found Beyli, but we were not there at that moment. We were at my mother's house. And I tell my daughter, I felt something, I tell my daughter: come on, get in, we're going there to see how the rescue is going, how they are removing the material," he said.

The rescue came as a complete surprise to the family.

"We never imagined it was the dog because we had no hope of finding him alive after so much time. The last thing on our minds was finding the dog alive," Jairo admitted.

Since his rescue, Beyli has been receiving treatment from local veterinarians.

Veterinarian Mirna Calderon said the dog arrived frightened and severely underweight after spending weeks trapped beneath the rubble.

"When I received Beyli, he was very frightened. As we say, there are many losses. He had a fairly considerable weight loss. You can still see that he has quite a lot of weight loss, and he will recover it little by little," she said.

Calderon said Beyli suffered corneal ulcers in both eyes because of the rubble but remained active throughout his recovery.

"However, despite everything, he remained active, alert, in very good spirits, and with a great appetite," she added.

"There is no explanation for how Beyli could have been in the condition he was in," Calderon said.

The earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, caused the collapse of 190 buildings in Venezuela and left more than 5,500 people dead and 16,700 others injured, according to the latest figures released by the Venezuelan government.

Demonstrators carrying Venezuelan flags and banners marched through the capital, calling for a clear timetable for a new presidential election and the return of opposition leader María Corina Machado from exile.

The protest was organised by Vente Venezuela, Machado's political party, ahead of a new round of US-backed talks scheduled to begin on August 1 between Venezuela's interim government and a group of former opposition lawmakers.

Vente Venezuela spokesperson Henry Alviarez said the opposition would closely monitor the negotiations.

"People are going to be watching the things he does. Mr Jorge Rodriguez should not think that he is going to do whatever he wants and that he is going to use this space to once again mock the Venezuelan people. No, Mr Jorge," he said.

The talks are expected to bring together Jorge Rodriguez, president of the Chavista-controlled National Assembly, and Dinorah Figuera.

The opposition demonstration coincided with celebrations organised by the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela to mark what would have been the 72nd birthday of former president Hugo Chávez.

Calls for a new presidential election have intensified since the constitutional deadline for Delcy Rodríguez's temporary presidency expired.

Rodríguez assumed office after US forces captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a military operation in Caracas on January 3.

Maduro is currently being held in New York , where he is awaiting trial on federal drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges.

Several protesters voiced strong accusations against the foreign missions. One demonstrator claimed that those involved in the rescue efforts were not genuine humanitarian actors but part of a broader agenda tied to geopolitical interests.

"We are paying tribute to all the fallen neighbours who could not get out on June 24, placing a light for them so they can climb a step and so that God may keep them in a very beautiful place up there," said survivor Adriana Velasco.

Velasco reflected on how the disaster changed her life in a matter of seconds.

"I really have no words; there are no words to describe how one feels after having had everything and in 39 seconds for everything to end and for you to have nothing left," she told Viory.

Describing the emotional impact of the tragedy, she added, "You see sadness, a deep pain, and at least my soul torn apart and shattered to pieces." "They are from the neighbourhood association here in our building, OPP 33C. And they organised this mass for those who died in our building," survivor Yordan Pina said.

One month after the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, official figures show more than 5,300 people have died, 16,740 have been injured, 6,462 rescued, 17,907 displaced, and 190 buildings have collapsed nationwide.

In her address paying tribute to the earthquake victims, Rodriguez commended the national response efforts.

"Exactly one month ago, we became victims of nature with a double earthquake. In circumstances truly unprecedented for our country, but that day, Army Day, our Bolivarian National Armed Force went out to be there for the people of Venezuela to stand by them, to rescue, to save lives, to get their boots caked in mud, and they are still there on the ground."

The tragedy was caused by 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude tremors on June 24. The disaster resulted in 5,546 deaths and left almost 17,000 people injured, while many others remain missing. The physical destruction was severe, with hundreds of buildings pulverised and more than 23,000 people left homeless.

Observances took place throughout the affected region. In Tanaguarena, La Guaira, dozens of rescue volunteers and family members searching for missing relatives paused their work at a destroyed building to participate in the silence.

Speaking on his nationally televised programme, Con el mazo dando , Cabello said Machado had never planned to return to Venezuela and claimed she had travelled abroad for personal reasons.

"And it's all a show. She [Maria Corina Machado] was not coming here. She was going to her son's wedding. All of that was a scandal [...] Now she is in Panama, my little vinyl antennas informed me. They have her tucked away there in Panama because she wants to come to Venezuela," he said.

Cabello also dismissed reports that Venezuelan airspace had been closed to stop Machado from returning.

He said Simon Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía was undergoing repairs after sustaining damage during the earthquakes, but stressed that flights were continuing through other airports. He described claims of an air blockade as part of an opposition "narrative."

"She said she was coming to Venezuela to save Venezuelans. Let's see how many people she can save! They are miserable people who want to play with other people's pain. Miserable people," Cabello added.

Machado has not publicly responded to Cabello's remarks. His claims about her travel plans have not been independently confirmed.

"That president is innocent of everything he is accused of and there is no material evidence that can prove that Nicolas Maduro is guilty of any of the crimes he is accused of," Maduro Guerra said. "Our task here is to resist."

He also called for national unity, saying Venezuelans wanted peace , prosperity and respectful relations with other countries, while urging the return of both Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Maduro Guerra argued that lifting international sanctions was key to the country's economic recovery. "A broad national consensus is that they have to remove the blockade and sanctions so that we can take off as an economic power," he said.

Grassroots leader Gloria Lopez also addressed the rally, describing the legal proceedings against Maduro as a pretext to prolong his detention. She alleged the United States was motivated by Venezuela's oil and gold resources and said sanctions had worsened poverty.

The protest coincided with the third court hearing for Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores in New York , where Judge Alvin Wallerstein proposed 1st June 2027 as the start date for their trial.

"Just as there are differences in the family, there are differences between countries, and the way to resolve them is politics and diplomacy. And I know that diplomacy, I have faith, my heart tells me that, through diplomacy, I will embrace my father and Cilia again," he added in a message published on social media.

The former president and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by US forces on January 3 and put on trial in New York on charges related to drug trafficking.

Maduro Guerra said that during his father's third hearing in a federal court in New York, "we will be able to continue expressing the truth about who Nicolas Maduro Moros is."

"A decent man, a very brave man, an indomitable, irreducible man, whose only act has been to fight for the prosperity and peace of this people ," he said, describing the capture as a "kidnapping."

He also said Venezuela would overcome the "aggressions" and the crisis caused by recent earthquakes , adding that the sadness caused by these events "we have turned it and are turning it into strength to keep moving forward."

At the time of publication, a US judge had set a trial date of June 1, 2027.

Nicolas Maduro faces charges of conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States . Cilia Flores is accused of offences related to drug importation and possession of firearms.

According to the information provided, both were captured by US forces during an operation in Caracas on January 3 that included bombings and left at least 100 people dead and 100 injured.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez led the handover ceremony on Monday at the Ciudad Tiuna housing complex in Caracas, where families affected by the twin earthquakes moved into renovated apartments.

The homes form part of the government's reconstruction plan launched after the earthquakes damaged communities across the country.

Rodriguez said the authorities planned to deliver 4,000 homes before the end of the year.

"More than 240 families are receiving a home, a fully equipped home, and from here, from the month of July to the month of December, we will be delivering 4,000 homes," she said.

She said the programme would also include the construction of new housing developments.

"We are also going to incorporate new homes that are going to be built, and the General Staff is already reviewing the land with the Presidential Commission for Enabling, so together we are going to address these needs," she added.

Rodriguez also said the government was identifying unfinished residential buildings that could be completed and handed over to families.

"We have also inspected buildings that still needed to be completed, not only in the capital, in Caracas, but in other states of the country. We are going to go much further so that next year we will already reach a figure greater than 10,000 homes recovered from buildings that had not been completed," Rodriguez said.

She reassured families still living in temporary shelters that permanent housing would be provided.

"Those who are in temporary camps must have the certainty that they will soon have a home, they will soon have a house, despite how terrible what this natural tragedy caused was," she said.

According to the latest official figures released by the Venezuelan government, the earthquakes killed 5,278 people, injured 16,740, left 23,583 people in temporary camps and caused the collapse of 190 buildings.

The hospital, deployed as part of El Salvador's humanitarian assistance, provides medical services for people of all ages and also offers veterinary care for companion animals, including dogs and cats.

The initiative was launched by the government of President Nayib Bukele in response to the earthquake emergency.

The Salvadoran team includes doctors, paramedics and veterinary staff. Medical personnel will provide care around the clock, while veterinary services for pets will operate daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Services available at the field hospital include medical consultations, emergency stabilisation for seriously injured patients, psychological support for survivors and treatment for injured or vulnerable domestic animals.

The deployment follows the first phase of El Salvador's emergency response, during which Salvadoran rescue teams helped search for people trapped beneath collapsed buildings and assisted with debris removal in affected areas.

The twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake was followed 39 seconds later by a stronger magnitude 7.5 quake. The disaster caused widespread destruction across several states, including La Guaira, and triggered thousands of aftershocks.

According to figures released on Saturday, the earthquakes have killed 4,333 people and injured 16,740 others. Authorities said 31,193 patients have received hospital treatment, with more than 90% having since been discharged.

Uzcanga explained that his aim is simply to help those in need during a difficult time, ensuring that victims can be laid to rest with dignity. His actions have resonated widely on social media , with many praising the initiative as a sign of solidarity amid the ongoing recovery efforts.

"That gold belongs to our people , and that gold must be available to address the terrible, tragic consequences of this double earthquake," she said.

Rodríguez also said she had spoken with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva about accessing Venezuelan resources blocked at the IMF and renewed calls for international sanctions to be lifted.

According to Venezuelan authorities, the June 24 earthquakes have killed at least 3,811 people, injured more than 16,000 and left thousands homeless.

The controversy began after Mizrachi shared the decision on social media , saying the device was intended to track the delivery of aid to affected communities. Cabello responded by stressing that humanitarian assistance should not be politicised, particularly during a national emergency. Panama is among several countries that have provided aid to Venezuela after the earthquakes struck the country’s northern region.

Two powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela in quick succession just after 18:00 local time (23:00 BST) on 24 June 2026. A magnitude 7.2 earthquake was followed 39 seconds later by a stronger magnitude 7.5 quake.

The earthquakes struck near Yaracuy state and were felt across much of Venezuela and neighbouring countries, with tremors reported as far away as the Brazilian Amazon.

The disaster caused widespread destruction, with buildings collapsing in several cities, including the capital, Caracas, trapping residents beneath the rubble.

Venezuelan authorities launched large-scale search-and-rescue operations immediately after the earthquakes, deploying emergency teams across the affected regions as crews worked around the clock to locate survivors.

More than 20 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial earthquakes, while the magnitude 7.5 quake was the strongest recorded in Venezuela in more than 125 years.

As rescue efforts continue, families are still searching for missing relatives. Colombia n-Venezuelan national Moises Leonel Perez travelled from Bogotá to Venezuela's Caribbean coast after losing contact with his mother following the June 24 earthquakes. Perez, who moved to Colombia in 2018, returned to Venezuela to help search for her after repeated attempts to reach her failed.

Twelve days after the disaster, Venezuelan authorities said the earthquakes had killed 3,535 people , injured 16,740 others and left more than 17,000 people homeless, with recovery and rescue operations continuing across the affected regions.

During the ceremony, Venezuela awarded the "Hero of Venezuela" and "Canine Heroes of Venezuela" decorations to international teams that participated in search and rescue operations.

Among those recognised was the Bolivian rescue delegation. Lieutenant Colonel Ibar Gálvez Lazo thanked the Venezuelan government for the honour but said the true recognition belonged to those affected by the disaster.

"As a Bolivian, part of the South American region, we feel honoured to support the people who are suffering from this natural disaster situation, such as the earthquake, and always committed to contributing and supporting the population ," he told Viory.

He added that, in his view, "the ones who should be recognised are the affected people."

The honoured delegations came from Europe, Western Asia and Latin America . Teams from Jordan, the Czech Republic, Colombia, Spain and Portugal were recognised for their work with search-and-rescue dogs, while rescue personnel from Germany, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic were also honoured for assisting in the emergency response.

"We beat Venezuela in one day, and we knocked the hell out of Iran. They're dying to settle. They want to settle so badly. We gave them a week off for a funeral because we're nice," Trump said.

Trump made the remarks while highlighting what he described as America's military strength and global leadership. He also praised the country's achievements over the past 250 years, citing advances in science, technology, culture and space exploration .

"For 250 years, the entire world has looked to our country and been inspired by the leaps of progress, feats of strength, and acts of selflessness, faith, and hope that could only have happened right here," he said.

The president also pointed to US accomplishments ranging from mapping the human genome and landing astronauts on the moon to its influence in music, sports and innovation. He noted that the United States has won the most Olympic medals and Nobel Prizes, before joking that he had yet to receive the prestigious award himself.

"We knew that we were facing a major natural catastrophe and that La Guaira, the state of La Guaira, had become a disaster zone. The first hours involved immediate response, with the deployment of 4,000 civilian and military personnel, which increased the following day and reached 14,000 personnel," she said.

Rodríguez also accused what she described as "media laboratories" of encouraging people to travel to the disaster zone, saying the influx complicated rescue operations.

"There are those who, humanly and rightly, went down to look for a relative, went down to look for a friend, went down to look for a worker, but media laboratories were activated, I have to say that responsibly," she said.

The acting president thanked countries for supporting Venezuela's relief efforts, including the United States , the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Brazil, Spain and Israel.

She also announced an initial $200 million reconstruction fund and said the government was seeking to recover additional funds through discussions with the International Monetary Fund and the US State Department.

A spokesperson for Jordan's Public Security Directorate said the team found the child alive beneath the debris with stable vital signs. "The team found a three-year-old child alive under the rubble of one of the houses, and his vital signs appeared to be in good condition," the spokesperson said.

"The team worked for hours to remove debris while monitoring the child's vital signs using thermal imaging devices, before reaching him and extracting him without any harm," he added.

Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, also confirmed the rescue on social media , identifying the child as Klieber Moran.

"Three-year-old Klieber Moran was rescued alive in La Guaira state after six days trapped under the rubble," Rodríguez wrote. "Klieber's life is hope for our people ," she added.

Venezuela was struck by two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude on June 24, just moments apart, causing widespread destruction in several regions.

Edgar Martinez, a canine handler with the Mexican Red Cross, said rescue teams have been working in difficult conditions but remain committed to the mission.

"We are here in Venezuela, in La Guaira, working on search and location efforts for live people in quite difficult scenarios, with quite high temperatures, but with a great willingness to help," he said.

Martinez explained that the dogs are trained to identify survivors by detecting carbon dioxide released through human breathing.

"The dogs are trained to locate people through breathing, specifically through the carbon dioxide that we emit when we exhale; that indicates that a person is alive," he said.

He added that preparing the dogs for rescue operations depends heavily on volunteers who simulate being trapped during training exercises.

"People are literally used, and we are very grateful in advance to everyone who helps us in Mexico by hiding from the dogs... when I send the dog to search, there has to be a person pretending to be buried so that the dog can be locating them," Martinez said.

Mexico has reportedly deployed 22 canine teams to Venezuela to assist with search-and-rescue operations. Eighteen of the teams are from the Emergency Response Battalion of the Secretariat of Defence, while the remaining four belong to the Mexican Red Cross, including Orly, Balam and Kenai.

The three internationally certified dogs have previously taken part in major disaster response missions, including search efforts following the February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey.

The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 have killed 1,943 people and injured 10,571 others, according to updated figures released by Venezuelan authorities on Tuesday.

Panama has collected more than 100 tonnes of humanitarian assistance for victims of the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, as the government intensifies its regional relief effort. President José Raúl Mulino said the country had already dispatched a first aircraft carrying 18 tonnes of emergency supplies, while additional donations continue to arrive at collection centres nationwide. The aid includes non-perishable food, bottled water, hygiene products, medicines, flashlights, batteries, mattresses and other emergency supplies requested by Venezuelan authorities. Panama is also preparing to deploy a 60-member search and rescue team, led by the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC), with four search dogs, drones and thermal imaging equipment. The initial mission is expected to last seven days, but could be extended depending on conditions on the ground.

María Corina Machado alleges air blockade prevented entry into Panama

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has accused authorities of preventing her from travelling to Panama by imposing what she described as an "air blockade" designed to stop her participation in an international event. Speaking remotely from Venezuela, Machado claimed the restrictions formed part of broader efforts to isolate opposition figures and limit their international engagement. She argued that the measures were politically motivated and aimed at restricting democratic participation ahead of Venezuela's continuing political crisis. The allegations have added to growing international concern over political freedoms and freedom of movement for opposition leaders. Panamanian officials have not been accused of imposing the restrictions themselves, with Machado directing her criticism at Venezuelan authorities.

Authorities issue rough sea warning for Panama's Caribbean coast

Panama's Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (IMHPA) has warned residents and visitors to exercise caution along the Caribbean coast due to rough sea conditions expected over several days. Forecasts indicate stronger winds and higher waves that could affect beaches, fishing operations, small vessels and recreational activities. Authorities advised the public to avoid unnecessary sea travel, follow instructions from local emergency services and pay attention to updated weather bulletins. The warning comes during a period of changing regional weather patterns that frequently generate hazardous marine conditions across the Caribbean basin. Emergency officials also reminded beachgoers to avoid swimming in areas without lifeguards and urged small fishing boats to carefully assess conditions before leaving port.

Morocco donates fertilisers to strengthen Panama's family farming sector

Panamanian farmers have received the first shipment of fertilisers donated by Morocco under a bilateral cooperation programme aimed at strengthening family agriculture and improving national food security. The initiative is expected to benefit small-scale producers by reducing production costs while improving crop yields. The donation forms part of expanding agricultural cooperation between the two countries and supports Panama's broader strategy of increasing domestic food production. Officials said access to fertilisers has become increasingly important following global supply disruptions and rising input prices that have affected agricultural producers worldwide. Authorities believe the programme will particularly benefit rural communities by improving productivity, supporting household incomes and increasing the resilience of Panama's agricultural sector.

Panama detects foreigners working without permits and labour violations

Mitradel carried out 218 inspections nationwide last week to verify labour standards, workplace safety and legal hiring practices. The operations, led by Minister Jackeline Muñoz, included checks on labour conditions, occupational safety, child labour and labour migration. Inspectors found 10 foreign nationals working without permits, with seven cases referred for administrative proceedings. Violations included missing protective equipment, poor hygiene and safety conditions, lack of employment contracts, unpaid labour obligations and irregular hiring of migrant workers.

Mexico remains the world's largest Spanish-speaking country by native speakers, with about 138.1 million people speaking Spanish as their first language, according to World Population Review population estimates.

The ranking highlights the global reach of Spanish, one of the world's most widely spoken languages. More than 500 million people speak Spanish as a native language, making it the second-most spoken native language globally after Mandarin Chinese, according to the Instituto Cervantes.

The United States ranks second with approximately 65.5 million Spanish speakers. Although English is the country's dominant language, decades of immigration from Latin America, particularly Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Central America, have made the U.S. home to one of the world's largest Spanish-speaking populations. Around 69.5% of Spanish speakers in the U.S. are native speakers, according to World Population Review.

Latin America accounts for eight of the world's ten largest Spanish-speaking populations.

After Mexico and the United States, Colombia ranks third with 53.1 million native Spanish speakers, followed by Spain with 48.9 million and Argentina with 47.5 million.

The remaining countries in the top ten are Peru (30.6 million), Venezuela (29.4 million), Chile (20.2 million), Ecuador (17.5 million) and Guatemala (17 million).

Spanish is the official language in 20 sovereign states across Europe and the Americas and is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations .

The United States is unique among the top-ranked countries because it has no federal official language, yet it hosts the world's second-largest Spanish-speaking population.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the country's Hispanic population has grown steadily over recent decades, driven by both immigration and natural population growth. Spanish is the most widely spoken language after English and is used extensively in education, media, business and public services.

Unlike most Latin American countries, however, a smaller share of the U.S. population speaks Spanish as a native language compared with countries where Spanish is the national language.

The Instituto Cervantes estimates that nearly 600 million people worldwide use Spanish, including native speakers, second-language speakers and learners.

Spanish is the official language of international organisations, including the United Nations, the European Union, the Organisation of American States and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). It is also one of the most studied foreign languages globally.

Population growth across Latin America, together with the continued expansion of Hispanic communities in the United States, is expected to sustain Spanish as one of the world's most influential global languages in the coming decades.

Emergency teams have assisted tens of thousands of families, distributing food and providing medical care both locally and in the capital, Caracas. International support has also played a key role, with foreign rescue teams, search dogs and humanitarian supplies arriving to aid the response. Despite ongoing relief efforts, many people remain missing as authorities race against time to find survivors.

The rescue came as international teams continued searching for survivors in the disaster zone following two powerful earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday, 24 June. The back-to-back tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, caused widespread destruction in Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira, prompting one of the country's largest rescue operations in decades.

Authorities said the death toll had reached 1,450 by Sunday, while 3,150 people were reported injured. Officials said 79,539 missing persons reports had been filed, with 14,695 people located and 47,205 still unaccounted for.

Emergency responders from several countries have joined Venezuelan rescue crews, working around the clock to search collapsed buildings despite continuing aftershocks and dwindling hopes of finding more survivors alive. More than 2,600 foreign rescue workers have been deployed to assist local teams, while thousands of residents remain displaced. Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com

Juan Mujica, one of the survivors, said the response had been difficult because of the scale of the disaster and Venezuela’s wider challenges.

“It is still difficult because, as a state, we do not have a response capacity high enough to be able to reach people , due to the complicated situation Venezuela is facing. But to the extent possible, both private actors and a small part of the state are making efforts to get this food delivered,” Mujica said.

He added that specialised assistance remained inadequate for the number of people affected.

“Precarious because, as I mentioned, it does not have the response capacity for this irregular situation. It is a crisis. As a crisis, it overwhelms us, and we do not have the capacity to respond,” he said.

Residents are also facing severe communication difficulties, making it harder for affected communities to seek help or share information.

“There is no fully complete distribution of information and people are cut off. We have no signal, we have no type of communication, neither internal nor external. So we try to reach the media by walking or hitching a ride or something like that,” Mujica added.

Authorities said on Saturday that the death toll had risen to 1,430, with 3,238 people injured. The official missing persons registry has also recorded more than 78,000 reports, with an estimated 50,668 people still unaccounted for, Viory reports.

The mission comes as rescue operations continue in the hardest-hit regions, where homes and infrastructure have been severely damaged. Colombian authorities said the deployment is part of a humanitarian response aimed at assisting Venezuela’s emergency services and helping locate those still missing.

Heavy machinery worked through piles of concrete while volunteers formed human chains to remove debris by hand from collapsed buildings in Los Palos Grandes.

One of the worst-hit sites was the 14-storey Petunia I residential tower, which local reports said collapsed floor by floor before being reduced to a compact pile of rubble. At least 17 residents were rescued from the building.

Families remained gathered near the scene, hoping for news of loved ones still trapped beneath the debris.

"We are waiting for a friend of mine who lived in that building, and they still have not managed to get him out with his daughter," said Alejandro Castillo.

He appealed for support for families who lost everything in the disaster.

"We have to join hands and help those people who were left on the street," he said.

Marisol Rojas, who survived one of the collapses, recalled the moment the building began to fail.

"We saw how the building was falling, how it compressed. A slab fell on me from up here. It hit me, and all I told them was, 'Run!'" she said.

Authorities urged residents not to return to damaged buildings until engineers completed structural inspections.

According to the latest official figures released by Venezuelan authorities, at least 235 people have been killed, more than 4,300 injured and 157 remain missing. Around 200 people are also believed to still be trapped beneath the rubble across the affected areas.

Her uncle said the family had suffered multiple losses in the disaster.

“I lost relatives here today. Everything happened very fast, the three apartments were blown away, the whole street, the whole block is reduced to rubble. Thank God they are rescuing a niece, she is the only one we have alive right now,” he said.

The rescue followed hours of coordinated efforts by specialised emergency teams and volunteers working at the site.

Search-and-rescue operations remain underway across La Guaira, where numerous buildings have suffered partial or complete collapse. Authorities continue to deploy heavy machinery, canine search units and specialised rescue personnel in an effort to locate more survivors.

Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said on Thursday that the death toll had risen to 188, with 1,520 people injured. He added that 157 people remain missing and another 200 are still believed to be trapped beneath collapsed structures.

“We are here accompanying our people in the search and rescue of people who were trapped by structures and buildings that collapsed. We are accompanying the families; we extend our solidarity and hope to recover as many people alive as possible,” she said.

Authorities have identified La Guaira as one of the hardest-hit areas, with extensive damage reported to hotels, homes and tourist buildings. Rescue teams continue to search through the rubble for survivors.

Rodríguez also announced that Venezuela had requested international assistance to strengthen rescue operations.

“We have requested international help. The first rescuers arriving from the Dominican Republic are already about to land, and in the coming hours, others will arrive from the rest of the countries of the international community,” she said.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela within seconds of each other. The first measured magnitude 7.2, followed by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake. The epicentres were located near Morón, west of Caracas, at shallow depths.

Emergency authorities continue to assess the damage as search-and-rescue operations remain underway in the affected regions.

Rescuers stabilised the girl at the scene before taking her to a nearby medical centre, where she remains under medical observation.

Her mother, Alexandra Pedrero, described the moment the building collapsed.

“This was something unexpected. And when the tremor started,  I couldn't figure out how to come asking for help, so they could bring me. And when I looked, I saw my daughter trapped,” she said.

Local media reported that several people had been rescued alive from collapsed buildings as search-and-rescue operations continued in Caracas and other affected areas.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela within seconds of each other. The first measured magnitude 7.2, followed by a stronger magnitude 7.5 earthquake. Both were centred near Yumare, close to the Montalbán-Morón area in Carabobo state, at shallow depths.

The earthquakes were felt across Caracas and several north-central states, prompting residents to evacuate buildings and causing damage to offices, residential buildings and other structures.

Venezuela’s seismological agency, FUNVISIS, urged residents to rely on official information as the risk of aftershocks remained.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said emergency incidents had been reported in Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, Trujillo and La Guaira.

According to the latest update by interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, the death toll has climbed to 164, with nearly 1,000 injured, compared to preliminary official figures, which reported 32 killed, and about 700 were injured after authorities warned that casualty figures could rise as rescue operations and damage assessments continue.

Venezuela last experienced a similar-magnitude earthquake in 2018, when a magnitude 7.3 earthquake centred near Sucre state was felt across parts of the Caribbean and South America .

“Today, at around 18:00 in the evening, two earthquakes occurred in succession, the first a 7.2 and immediately afterward a 7.5. By this hour, 20 aftershocks have already been recorded,” she said.

“It is an event with serious consequences, and there are states that are particularly affected. In the capital city, Caracas, there were building collapses in different parishes, the state of Miranda, and the state of La Guaira. The states of Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcon, where we have had impact, have also been severely affected.”

The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured the earthquakes at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, with epicentres near Morón, approximately 160 kilometres west of Caracas.

The USGS issued a red alert through its Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) system, indicating the potential for severe humanitarian impacts. The agency estimated that fatalities could eventually range between 10,000 and 100,000 based on the intensity of the shaking, population exposure and the vulnerability of affected buildings.

Rodríguez later confirmed that at least 32 people had been killed and more than 700 injured, warning that the number of casualties could increase as search and rescue operations continue.

Emergency authorities have deployed specialised search-and-rescue teams to affected areas to search collapsed buildings, while residents have been urged to remain outdoors because of continued powerful aftershocks.

UPDATE :

Milei also claimed that countries like Venezuela are being “liberated” and predicted a future free Cuba, comments that come as Washington increases pressure on Havana through tighter sanctions . While US officials have reportedly considered contingency plans for unrest, Cuba has warned that further escalation could worsen the crisis and lead to serious consequences, even as it signals openness to dialogue.

It focuses on offshore gas exploration, particularly in the Deltana Platform and the Loran gas field, key areas in Venezuela’s northeastern energy reserves.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rodríguez described BP’s return as a signal of the kind of international partnerships Venezuela aims to rebuild. She said the government is pursuing “relations of respect” and cooperation based on shared benefits, adding that the deal forms part of a broader energy agenda designed to support economic recovery and job creation.

The ICJ is set to begin oral hearings on May 4 in the dispute over Essequibo, a resource-rich region administered by Guyana but claimed by Venezuela. Guyana is asking the court to uphold the 1899 arbitral award that fixed the current boundary, while Venezuela insists the matter should be handled under the 1966 Geneva Agreement.

Rodriguez also announced an oil production agreement with Italian energy firm Eni, saying it would support Venezuela’s economic recovery and public welfare. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, speaking at the same event, blamed U.S. sanctions for damaging the country’s economy and rejected claims that he holds assets abroad.

Petro also pushed for a coordinated strategy to dismantle criminal networks and highlighted energy transition as a pathway to reducing violence and fostering sustainable development. The visit signals a renewed effort to stabilise bilateral ties, revive trade and address long-standing security challenges affecting border communities.

“Why do we want Venezuela free of sanctions? Because we want Venezuela to be able to fully expand, without any kind of restriction, all of its capacities, all of its potential, its immense wealth that has made Venezuela,” she said.

Rodríguez also urged political leaders and citizens to reflect on the events of January 3, saying the violence should never be repeated.

Republican Representative María Elvira Salazar, who chairs the panel, praised President Donald Trump’s Venezuela policy and said no recent administration had gone as far. In opening remarks released by the committee, Salazar said Maduro’s fall had changed the region and increased pressure on other authoritarian governments, especially Cuba.

Democrats on the panel, however, questioned both the legality and the motives behind U.S. action in Venezuela. Representative Joaquin Castro argued that the intervention was driven less by democratic ideals than by oil and warned that a similar strategy toward Cuba could further destabilise the region.

"This administration did not invade Venezuela because it was outraged by that theft, though. And to be clear, I would not have supported an invasion to enforce the results of the election. We know why the president ordered US service members into harm's way. Venezuela's oil, not democracy ," Castro said.

His remarks came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Havana, with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel recently warning against any U.S. attack and saying such a move would have serious regional consequences.

Speaking at an official event, Rodríguez thanked the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Qatar and the United States for supporting the process, and also acknowledged U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Viory reports. The reopening comes after relations with the IMF were effectively paused in 2019 amid disputes over international recognition of Venezuela’s government.

Rodríguez also enacted Venezuela’s new Organic Mining Law, saying it would help attract major domestic and foreign investment into the sector.

"This is good news for Venezuela, good news for our people . In national unity, we will continue paving the way so that, together, we can build a Venezuela free from sanctions, for the well-being and happiness of our people," she said.

According to recent reporting, the legislation replaces a nearly 30-year-old framework, allows multiple ownership structures including public, private and mixed companies, and offers broader legal guarantees and a more flexible tax regime for investors.

The mining reform forms part of a push by Caracas to open the sector to foreign capital as it looks for new revenue sources beyond oil.

American Airlines said it plans to resume flights to Venezuela as early as April 30, potentially becoming the first US carrier to return after a seven-year suspension of services. The airline received approval from the US Department of Transportation in early March and is now working with authorities in both countries to finalise security and regulatory requirements. If cleared, the carrier will operate daily nonstop flights between Miami and Caracas using Embraer 175 aircraft, with services run by its regional subsidiary Envoy. The move follows a major shift in US–Venezuela relations after the January 3 operation that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro, which prompted Washington to lift a long-standing ban on commercial flights imposed in 2019 over safety concerns.

Venezuela opens mining sector to private investors after oil overhaul

Venezuela has approved sweeping reforms to open its mineral sector to private and foreign investors, just weeks after easing state control over oil, as part of a US-backed economic shift. The new law introduces long-term concessions, legal protections and international arbitration to attract investment into a sector long dominated by the state and plagued by illegal mining. The move follows the January removal of Nicolás Maduro and the rise of interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, who is pushing market-oriented reforms to revive the economy. Despite vast reserves of gold, diamonds and other minerals, much of the sector remains underdeveloped and controlled by illicit networks, raising doubts about how effectively the reforms can be enforced.

Venezuela’s scrapped plan to acquire Iranian ballistic missiles

In 2020, Venezuela’s defence ministry under Nicolás Maduro set aside more than $400 million to acquire a ballistic missile system from Iran, according to internal documents cited by officials familiar with the plan. The proposal was part of broader discussions between Tehran and Caracas over transferring long-range missile capabilities, raising concerns in Washington that such weapons could threaten US territory. US officials at the time pushed back strongly, warning that any transfer would not be tolerated. The deal was ultimately abandoned under American pressure, and no missiles were delivered, though evidence suggests negotiations had advanced further than publicly acknowledged.

Venezuelan police block wage and pension protesters in Caracas

Workers and retirees in Caracas marched towards the presidential palace, demanding higher wages and decent pensions, but were blocked by police, highlighting deepening anger over incomes of about $160 a month in the public sector and $237 in the private sector, far below the cost of living. The protest came a day after interim President Delcy Rodríguez urged patience while promising a cautious wage increase. Still, demonstrators pushed past initial barricades before being stopped roughly 2 kilometres from the Miraflores palace, underscoring growing frustration with years of stagnant pay and limited purchasing power.

Delcy Rodríguez stays on as Venezuela’s acting president beyond the 90-day limit

Delcy Rodríguez has remained Venezuela’s acting president beyond the 90-day constitutional limit set after Nicolás Maduro’s capture, with lawmakers yet to formally extend her mandate, leaving her tenure legally uncertain. A court ruling still recognises Maduro as president, describing his absence as “forced”, while the constitution allows an interim leader for 90 days, extendable once by the National Assembly, which has not held a vote. Analysts say the situation reflects a familiar pattern of legal manoeuvring to maintain power amid ongoing political uncertainty.

"I also ask that we correct our own past mistakes; we recognise them, we correct them, and I ask that we do not repeat them," she said.

Rodríguez said the sanctions had severely damaged the economy , leading to years of contraction, hyperinflation and widespread shortages. She noted that inflation once exceeded 300,000% and said the crisis had triggered a wave of migration, with many professionals leaving the country in search of better opportunities.

Rodríguez has been serving as acting president since January, after U.S. forces captured former president Nicolás Maduro, a move that plunged the country into political uncertainty.

Data from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries shows Venezuela holds the world’s biggest proven reserves, estimated at more than 303 billion barrels. Iran ranks third with about 208 billion barrels, behind only Saudi Arabia.

On paper, the U.S. military actions against these two countries were justified differently.

In Venezuela , Washington accused President Nicolás Maduro of leading a drug cartel and repeatedly portrayed the country as a source of deadly narcotics entering the U.S. Officials also described Maduro as responsible for mass migration into the U.S. and accused his government of exploiting American oil interests.

Iran , meanwhile, was framed as a security threat. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington knew Israeli action was imminent and that the U.S. had to act “pre-emptively” against expected Iranian attacks on American forces.

But both countries also sit on vast oil reserves at a time when the U.S. remains heavily dependent on crude.

The U.S. consumes about 20.6 million barrels of oil a day. Roughly 40 percent of that — about 9.1 million barrels — is used to power motor vehicles. The country imports around half of its daily crude supply, more than 10 million barrels a day.

Will Trump do to Iran what he did with Venezuela?

In late February, U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the most serious regional crisis in years. The attacks killed Iran’s Supreme Leader and targeted military and strategic sites across the country, drawing Tehran into direct confrontation with Washington and its allies.

Iran is not only a regional power but also one of the world’s largest oil producers. Any disruption to its energy sector reverberates through global markets.

At the same time, Washington has moved to rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry with the help of American firms.

The U.S. Department of State said the Trump administration has issued a series of licences allowing U.S. companies to market Venezuelan oil, supply essential production inputs and repair the country’s ageing oil infrastructure.

One licence authorises firms incorporated in the U.S. to market Venezuelan crude to buyers around the world, including largely in the U.S. Payments must be made on commercial terms and deposited into accounts in the U.S. overseen by the State and Treasury departments.

Other licences allow U.S. companies to sell diluent needed to produce Venezuela’s heavy crude and to provide equipment and services for the oil and gas sector. Additional authorisations permit negotiations on new upstream investment projects.

Washington has said the measures are designed to rebuild Venezuela’s energy sector after years of instability and mismanagement.

The State Department said revenues from the oil trade will be handled transparently and used for the benefit of the Venezuelan people, while the investments are intended to help modernise the country’s energy infrastructure.

U.S. officials have also framed the policy in terms of energy security.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Venezuela — once heavily sanctioned — is becoming a “ strategic ally ” with the world’s largest oil reserves. Venezuelan crude, he said, could help stabilise fuel prices in the U.S. and reduce vulnerability to disruptions elsewhere.

Venezuela’s state oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., has already signed new contracts to supply crude and refined products to refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Taken together, the developments place the world’s largest oil consumer closer to two of the biggest oil reserves on earth — one through renewed energy ties in its own hemisphere, the other amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The Trump administration is quietly preparing a possible criminal case against Venezuela's interim president , Delcy Rodríguez, including drafting an indictment, as part of efforts to increase U.S. leverage over Caracas, according to four sources familiar with the matter. Prosecutors are considering corruption and money-laundering charges linked to Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA and have warned Rodríguez she could face prosecution unless she continues cooperating with Washington after the U.S. removal of Nicolás Maduro in January. The draft charges are being developed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami and have evolved over the past two months, the sources said. The investigation focuses on the alleged laundering of PDVSA funds between 2021 and 2025. Separately, U.S. officials have also presented Rodríguez with a list of at least seven former senior Venezuelan officials and associates they want detained in Venezuela for possible extradition, according to the sources.

Venezuela pledges mining reform as US official visits

U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum met Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas as the Trump administration seeks to expand oil and mineral production in the South American country. Following the talks, Rodríguez said she would soon submit a proposal to Venezuela’s legislature to reform the country’s mining laws in an effort to attract foreign investment. Burgum said economic cooperation between the United States and Venezuela could grow significantly and noted that he was accompanied by representatives from several U.S. companies interested in accessing the country’s oil and mineral resources. He said investors are eager to begin projects and reduce regulatory barriers that could allow new capital to flow into Venezuela’s energy and mining sectors. The visit comes months after Washington backed the removal of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a move that drew criticism from some international observers.

Freed Argentine officer calls for release of foreign prisoners in Venezuela

Nahuel Gallo, an Argentine military police officer released after 448 days in detention in Venezuela, has urged the international community to push for the release of 24 foreign nationals still held in the Rodeo I prison, a facility widely criticised for its harsh conditions. Speaking at a news conference in Buenos Aires, Gallo said he would not feel truly free until the remaining detainees regain their freedom. Argentina’s Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, who appeared alongside him, thanked international allies including the United States, Italy and Israel for their support in securing Gallo’s release. Gallo was arrested in December 2024 while travelling to visit family and was accused by Venezuelan authorities of espionage. Venezuela’s government claimed he attempted to enter the country irregularly while concealing his true intentions.

How Venezuelan prisoners smuggled messages from jail

In a small apartment near Caracas, Adriana Briceño holds up what looks like rubbish. Hidden on the back of a chocolate wrapper is a message written by her son to his father, Ángel Godoy, while he was imprisoned in Venezuela’s notorious El Helicoide jail. “Daddy, take this to sweeten things a little. We love you,” the note reads. Originally built in the 1950s as a luxury shopping centre, El Helicoide was never completed and was later turned into a detention centre run by Venezuela’s intelligence services. It became a symbol of repression, with UN investigators documenting cases of arbitrary detention and torture there. Recently released prisoners say they endured beatings, isolation and threats against their families. Hundreds of political detainees have been freed since January, though many remain behind bars, according to rights groups.

Venezuelan was deported to an El Salvador prison over tattoos

In Bogotá’s Bolívar Square, Venezuelan migrant Luis Muñoz Pinto recalled the moment he was deported from the United States to El Salvador’s notorious Cecot mega-prison. The 27-year-old was among more than 250 Venezuelan men deported last March after the Trump administration accused them of links to the Tren de Aragua gang. “I thought my life had ended,” he said, describing the shock and harsh treatment u pon arrival. Now free, Muñoz Pinto is among more than 100 deportees a U.S. federal court has said must be allowed to return to the United States for due process. He insists the tattoos on his knees, two roses, were wrongly interpreted as gang symbols. “They are for my younger sisters, who are twins,” he said. “They have nothing to do with gangs.”

Standing at the lectern, Chávez pointed to the podium and said:

“Yesterday, the devil came here. Yesterday, the devil was right here. In this very spot. It still smells like sulphur... Ladies and gentlemen, from this very podium, the President of the United States, whom I call the devil, came here speaking as if he owned the world.”

During his nearly six-minute speech, Chávez used the platform to criticise what he described as Washington’s efforts to impose its political and economic model on other countries, often through military force. According to Chávez, the United States was attempting to shape the world in its own image while dismissing critics as extremists.

He also challenged Bush’s claim that the United States wanted peace, arguing that the actions of the US government told a different story.

“The United States does not want peace; it wants to impose its model of exploitation and looting and its hegemony at the point of a gun.”

The former Venezuelan leader also condemned military actions in the Middle East and accused what he described as imperialist powers of targeting civilians.

“Imperialist fire. Fascist fire. Murderous fire and genocidal fire. That of the Empire and Israel against the innocent people of Palestine and the people of Lebanon.”

Nearly two decades later, the issues Chávez raised during that speech are once again being debated amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Iran after weeks of military buildup and threats from US President Donald Trump. Later, it was confirmed that the strikes on Tehran killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran quickly retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at Israel and US facilities across the Middle East, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said the goal of the operation was to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and “to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime", urging the people of Iran to capitalise on the attack as what he described as the “only chance for generations” to take over their government.

Before the Iran attack, Chávez’s own successor, Nicolás Maduro, was removed from power after US special forces carried out a direct military operation in Venezuela on January 3. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown out of the country to face drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges in the US.

The operation included coordinated airstrikes in Caracas and naval deployments along the Venezuelan coast. Trump later described it as a “flawless” mission and said there were no American casualties.