Venezuela earthquakes: Death toll hits 235 as rescuers race to save survivors from rubble

Rescue teams are battling against time to find survivors after two devastating Venezuela earthquakes struck near the capital, Caracas, killing at least 235 people, injuring more than 4,300, and leaving thousands displaced.

The twin earthquakes, which struck within seconds of each other on Wednesday evening, have flattened homes, hotels, office buildings and public infrastructure across Caracas, the coastal state of La Guaira, and several other northern regions. Emergency workers say the number of casualties is expected to rise as search operations continue in the hardest-hit communities.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake measured 7.2 magnitude, followed just moments later by a stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor. Both quakes occurred at relatively shallow depths, significantly increasing the intensity of ground shaking and the scale of destruction.

Search-and-rescue teams, supported by soldiers, firefighters, police officers and volunteers, are combing through collapsed buildings using heavy machinery, rescue dogs and thermal imaging equipment in a race to locate survivors trapped beneath the debris.

Across Caracas and La Guaira, families gathered outside destroyed residential buildings and hospitals anxiously awaiting news of missing relatives. Authorities said rescue operations would continue around the clock despite repeated aftershocks.

Officials estimate that about 250 buildings have either collapsed or sustained severe structural damage, including residential apartments, hotels, hospitals, schools and government facilities.

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Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez has declared a nationwide state of emergency, mobilising the military and emergency agencies to coordinate rescue efforts and humanitarian assistance.

Thousands of residents who lost their homes have been moved into temporary shelters, while schools, sports centres and public buildings have been converted into emergency accommodation.

Authorities also confirmed that more than 30 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial earthquakes, forcing many residents to remain outdoors for fear of further building collapses.

The powerful earthquakes caused widespread disruption to essential services, damaging roads, bridges, electricity networks, water systems and telecommunications infrastructure.

Operations at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía were temporarily suspended after parts of the terminal sustained structural damage. Several roads linking Caracas to surrounding communities were also affected, slowing rescue operations.

Hospitals across the capital continue treating thousands of injured victims, with emergency medical teams working under pressure to cope with the rising number of casualties.

Scenes of grief unfolded across the affected areas as families searched hospitals, emergency shelters and collapsed buildings for missing relatives.

Medical student Juan Ortiz said one of his close friends had been confirmed dead, while another remained trapped beneath the rubble.

“I’m in shock and confusion, and frustrated that I can’t help,” he said.

Authorities have urged residents to avoid damaged buildings and cooperate with emergency officials as rescue efforts continue.

Several countries have pledged support for Venezuela’s emergency response.

The United States announced an initial $150 million humanitarian assistance package and deployed military transport aircraft, specialist search-and-rescue teams, medical personnel and emergency supplies.

Emergency assistance has also been offered by Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Qatar, and several international humanitarian organisations.

Technology company SpaceX has also activated Starlink satellite internet services to help restore communications in disaster-hit areas where mobile and internet networks have failed.

The USGS warned that the humanitarian crisis could worsen considerably.

Its earthquake impact assessment indicates there is a 42 per cent probability that fatalities could exceed 10,000, while there is a 33 per cent chance the disaster could ultimately affect more than 100,000 people, based on historical earthquake data, population density and the severity of the tremors.

Officials stressed that the estimates are intended to guide emergency response planning and do not represent confirmed casualty forecasts.

Experts say the earthquakes were triggered by movement along the boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates.

The 7.5-magnitude earthquake is believed to be the strongest recorded in Venezuela since 1900, making it one of the country’s worst natural disasters in modern history.

Authorities say their immediate priorities remain rescuing survivors, providing emergency medical treatment, restoring essential services and delivering humanitarian assistance to thousands of displaced families.

Venezuela earthquakes: Death toll hits 235 as rescuers race to save survivors from rubble

US Senate Passes Historic War Powers Resolution Rebuking Trump Over Iran Conflict

Bipartisan vote marks first time both chambers have approved measure directing president to end military action since 1973

The Republican-controlled US Senate has approved a war powers resolution demanding that President Donald Trump halt military action against Iran or seek congressional authorization to continue hostilities, delivering the most significant bipartisan rebuke of the president since his return to office. The resolution passed by a 50-48 vote on Tuesday, with four Republicans joining Democrats in support of the measure. The same measure was passed by the US House of Representatives earlier this month by a 215-208 vote, with four Republicans crossing party lines.

However, the resolution is largely symbolic—it is a concurrent resolution expressing the sentiment of Congress rather than legislation that carries the full force of law, and it will not be sent to the president for his signature or veto. Middle East analyst Laura Blumenfeld described it as “more of a slap on a wrist than a handcuff” because it has no legal binding effect. In practice, the vote is unlikely to have much impact on the currently frozen conflict with Iran. Experts believe Trump is likely to ignore it—as has every US president since the War Powers Resolution was enacted—and any legal challenges would likely produce no result. Scott Anderson, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, noted: “The executive branch will likely ignore it on constitutional grounds, and it’s not clear who might have standing to sue to enforce it.”

The vote marks the first time since the War Powers Resolution of 1973 that both chambers of Congress have approved a concurrent resolution instructing a president to end a military action. The law was born out of a clash between Congress and President Richard Nixon over the Vietnam War, with lawmakers overriding his veto in an effort to reclaim authority over decisions of war. Michael Glennon, a professor of international law at Tufts University, called the vote “almost unprecedented,” noting that “You have both houses of Congress, which are under the control of the Republican Party, standing up to the president and saying no.” He added that Trump has been “very effective” in exacting retribution against dissident Republicans who oppose him, making this “a watershed event.”

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Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer blasted the war on the Senate floor, declaring: “Time after time, the vast majority of Senate Republicans sided with Trump and his war instead of the American people. The American people have paid the price for Trump’s historic blunder in Iran. It’ll go down in the history books as one of the worst foreign policy forays America has ever made.” The vote reflects growing unease among Republicans over both the war and the ceasefire deal Trump struck with Iran. The conflict has become deeply unpopular with the American public amid skyrocketing petrol prices and enormous financial costs, with the Pentagon seeking approximately $80 billion from Congress to pay for the war.

The four Republican senators who voted with Democrats were Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote against the measure. The vote was aided by the absence of two Republican senators who have consistently opposed such efforts: former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who was recently hospitalized for an undisclosed matter, and Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania. A White House official told the BBC that the measure only passed because of these absences, and noted that with the ceasefire agreed on 7 April, there are “no hostilities from which to withdraw American forces.”

President Trump sharply criticized the resolution on his Truth Social platform, calling it “poorly timed and meaningless.” “So, I have Iran on the ‘ropes,’ ready to go down for the fall, willing to give us practically anything, and for the first time in decades, respecting the hell out of the United States and its President, ME, and the U.S. Senate decides to have a poorly timed and meaningless War Powers Act Vote,” Trump wrote. He added: “These Senators have just made my job more difficult, but I will get it done, one way or the other, because I always get it done!” Trump also labeled the four Republican senators who voted in favor as “Republican Losers.”

Federal law requires congressional approval to continue military actions for more than 60 days. The US-Israel strikes on Iran began on 28 February, although the Trump administration has argued April’s ceasefire reset the clock. The White House can also extend the deadline for another 30 days, citing national security. Currently, the US and Iran have agreed to continue a ceasefire and are working towards an end of hostilities under a memorandum of understanding signed by both presidents last week. Under that memo, Washington and Tehran have 60 days to negotiate a broader agreement on ending Iran’s nuclear programme, with Vice President JD Vance leading the American delegation in talks in Switzerland.

Whether the vote represents a harbinger of more opposition to the president remains unclear. Jonathan Entin, a constitutional law professor at Case Western Reserve University, cautioned: “I wouldn’t overreact to the significance of this vote. It’s important… but I’m not sure that we should view it as a sign of consistent conflict, or additional conflict, with the president.” According to Entin, the upcoming November midterm elections in the US mean that while a handful of Republicans may wish to signal independence from Trump to bring in independent voters, many others will be hoping to avoid drawing his ire. “There are constraints,” he said. “The president has overwhelming support among Republicans. A candidate who pushes back too much might risk alienating strong Republican voters who think they aren’t committed enough.”

The vote exposes deepening divisions among Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections, where control of both chambers of Congress hangs in the balance. It was the latest sign of division among Trump’s fellow Republicans, who have recently resisted the president on other fronts, including by rejecting his plans to create a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponisation” fund and approving Ukraine aid. The Tuesday vote was the 10th time Senate Democrats have forced a war powers vote since the start of the conflict.

US Senate Passes Historic War Powers Resolution Rebuking Trump Over Iran Conflict

‘Britain Is Not Ungovernable’ — Badenoch Attacks Starmer Following Resignation

Leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has launched a blistering attack on outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, describing him as “a terrible Prime Minister” following his shock resignation after less than two years in office. Starmer announced his resignation on Monday, June 22, after months of mounting political pressure, poor electoral performances, and growing public dissatisfaction. The announcement came after Labour suffered heavy losses in local council elections in May, shedding more than 1,000 seats, and following intense pressure from senior cabinet ministers urging him to set out an exit timetable. Starmer’s departure makes him the sixth UK prime minister in a decade to announce a premature departure from office.

Reacting in a post on X, Badenoch blamed Starmer’s administration for what she described as a series of policy failures, insisting Britain was “not ungovernable.” She accused the Labour government of hiking National Insurance contributions, introducing what she called the “Family Farm Tax,” abandoning meaningful welfare reforms, underfunding defence, failing to expand domestic oil and gas production, and appointing Peter Mandelson before allegedly misleading the public about the circumstances. “Hiking national insurance. The Family Farm Tax. Giving up on real welfare reform. Not funding our defence. Not drilling our own oil and gas. Appointing Peter Mandelson… then lying about what had happened,” she wrote. “Britain is not ungovernable. Keir Starmer is a terrible Prime Minister,” she declared.

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The Conservative leader argued that the problem extended beyond Starmer personally, accusing Labour lawmakers of prioritising higher taxes to fund increased welfare spending. “But the problem isn’t just Starmer. Labour MPs only want higher taxes to hand out more benefits, as the Welfare Secretary has pointed out. These are Labour’s choices and their values, regardless of who is running the party,” Badenoch added. She called for a return to Conservative leadership, saying, “We need to get Britain working again. We need the Conservatives.”

In his resignation speech outside 10 Downing Street, the outgoing prime minister said every decision he took had been motivated by putting Britain first and pledged to remain in office until Labour elects a new leader. He became emotional and broke down in tears as he finished his speech, thanking his wife, Vic, for her support and expressing his desire to spend more time with his family. “The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” Starmer said. “I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.” He revealed that nominations for the Labour leadership would open on July 9 and close before Parliament’s summer recess on July 16, with the transition expected to be completed by September.

Former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who was sworn in as MP for Makerfield hours after Starmer’s resignation, has already announced he will put himself forward for the leadership. His main rival, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, has withdrawn from the race and endorsed Burnham, clearing his path to become the next Prime Minister. Burnham, 56, has pledged to focus on economic growth, the cost-of-living crisis, public services, housing, and opportunities for younger generations. If elected, he would have to resign as mayor of Greater Manchester, a post he has held since 2017, triggering an early election for that office. Britain is set to have its seventh prime minister in a decade, underlining the political instability that has characterised the country since the Brexit referendum in 2016.

‘Britain Is Not Ungovernable’ — Badenoch Attacks Starmer Following Resignation