MEXICO PERSPECTIVE

Mexico, July 9, 2026. Twelve days after the double earthquake that struck Venezuela on June 24, Mexico's presence on the ground is central to the national narrative of the disaster. According to President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, Mexican search and rescue teams have recovered 80 bodies and saved two people alive from the rubble, a toll that has doubled in a few days compared to the 40 bodies counted on July 2. On the ground, 264 elements from the Sedena, the Mexican Air Force, and the National Guard, supported by 18 canine teams, remain deployed in the most affected areas, including the state of La Guaira, north of Caracas.

The official Venezuelan toll, presented by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, now stands at 3,685 dead and 16,740 injured, for earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5. Nearly 18,000 people are homeless and living in 87 temporary camps. Rodríguez praised the work of Mexican rescuers, describing it as "very important," and requested technical support from Claudia Sheinbaum for reconstruction, under the "Plan Venezuela Renace." "Mexico is a country with a great seismic tradition, but also with great experience and capabilities," she said.

The rescue of Aarón Levi Castillo, who was pulled alive from the rubble after 106 hours by the Topos de México, has fueled a narrative of solidarity widely reported in the Mexican press, with expressions of gratitude from the survivor and scenes of embracing his rescuers.

Beyond bilateral aid, the arrival of a humanitarian air bridge organized by Amazon, in coordination with the US State Department, highlights the scope of the needs: more than 650,000 people affected, according to the company. Venezuelan authorities have also announced the resumption of classes in 18 of the 24 unaffected states, despite reservations from the Venezuelan Federation of Teachers about the safety of damaged buildings.