Venezuelans in Colombia scramble to send aid as earthquakes death toll increases

People unload donated goods from a car marked "For Venezuela" as humanitarian aid to be sent to Venezuela following deadly earthquakes, in Bogota on June 26, 2026. Esteban Vega La-Rotta/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Esteban Vega La-Rotta/AFP via Getty Images BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Three days after a powerful double earthquake struck Venezuela, President Delcy Rodríguez has pledged to save "as many people as possible" and called for unity as the death toll from the country's worst earthquakes in more than a century continues to rise. More than 900 people are dead and over 3,000 injured, according to authorities, with many still unaccounted for. Thousands more have been left homeless, with survivors sleeping in public squares, shelters or parks. But on the ground, frustration is growing over what many see as a slow and disjointed response. International teams are arriving, but limited equipment and an overstretched health system are slowing the effort. In several hard-hit areas, there are still no heavy rescue tools, with residents forced to dig through rubble by hand. In Colombia, home to the largest Venezuelan population abroad, hundreds of people have turned up at community centers to donate non-perishable food, hygiene products, clothing, and even pet supplies. Humanitarian groups across Colombia and other neighboring countries are now racing to collect essential items to support survivors in the weeks ahead. …