What’s next for Venezuela’s path to recovery from devastating earthquakes?

Two major earthquakes struck Venezuela last month, leaving a trail of destruction across the South American country. Official death tolls exceed 5,000 individuals, with approximately 17,000 injured. According to the World Bank, around 18,000 people remain without shelter, while NASA satellite imagery indicates that more than 58,000 structures sustained damage or were completely destroyed. More than a month after the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes, rescue and recovery operations continue, though the initial critical window for finding survivors has long passed.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that 6,462 people were rescued in the immediate aftermath. However, recovery efforts have now shifted toward locating and recovering the remains of those who perished. The UN estimates that as many as 51,000 people may still be missing, though the Venezuelan government has not released an official count. Families continue searching through rubble, hoping to find and properly lay to rest their loved ones.

The financial burden of reconstruction presents a formidable challenge. The World Bank assessed physical damage at approximately $20 billion, a substantial figure for a nation already facing economic difficulties. When accounting for comprehensive recovery measures—including debris removal and efforts to improve building standards through "building back better" initiatives—total costs could escalate to $50 billion. An earlier UN preliminary estimate had placed recovery expenses at $37 billion. Without swift and adequately funded reconstruction efforts, Venezuela risks experiencing serious long-term economic consequences.