Venezuela earthquake death toll exceeds 1,400 as rescue efforts continue

Twin earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on Wednesday, killing more than 1,400 people and leaving tens of thousands unaccounted for, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez. Rescue teams from multiple countries entered their fourth day of searching collapsed buildings on Saturday while aftershocks continued.

Aid flights resumed after one runway reopened at Simon Bolivar International Airport near Caracas.

Victims and response Three young soccer players were among the dead.

Yimvert Berroteran, 18, who played for Venezuela's Under-20 team, was confirmed dead by the Venezuelan Football Federation on Friday. The federation also reported the deaths of 14-year-old Victor Palacios and Razan Sijaa, both members of the U-18 Caracas FC team.

The United States mobilized two urban search-and-rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles within hours of the quakes. Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands, Qatar, and Argentina have also sent personnel and supplies. A total of 21 international delegations comprising 2,000 workers, 96 dogs, 40 vehicles, and three metric tons of medicine have arrived since Wednesday, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said.

Aid coordination A White House official said Saturday that U.S. teams are working with interim authorities to manage logistics at the reopened airport. The official noted multiple countries are competing for limited runway and ground-transport capacity.

Loyce Pace, the Red Cross director for the Americas, told CNN that rolling aftershocks have forced teams to move cautiously when assessing damage or delivering supplies. She said residents want to return home but many buildings remain unsafe.