Return to Transcripts main page

Isa Soares Tonight

The Death Toll in Venezuela Soars as Rescuers Race to Find Survivors After Wednesday's Earthquake; Negotiators from the U.S., Israel and Lebanon Sign a Trilateral Framework Deal After a Fifth Round of Talks; Teams Play Their Final Group Game Matches for a Slot Among the 32 to Head to the Knockout Stage in the FIFA World Cup; Global Aid Effort Ramps Up For Quake- Hit Venezuela; Migrants Unsure Of Future After Supreme Court Decision; State Of Emergency In Crimea Amid Ukrainian Drone Attacks; Cape Verde Could Earn Knockout Round Appearance Today. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired June 26, 2026 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[14:00:00]

ISA SOARES, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, breaking news. The death toll in

Venezuela soars. Rescuers racing to find survivors after Wednesday's earthquake. This hour, I'll speak to a pediatrician in Caracas as well as a

deputy director of the Spanish rescue team on the ground.

Also, breaking this hour, negotiators from the U.S., Israel and Lebanon sign a trilateral framework deal after a fifth round of talks. We'll have

the very latest, of course, for you. Plus, a huge night for Cape Verde as they prepare to take on Saudi Arabia in the men's World Cup.

Can the tournament's favorite underdogs continue their historic run. I asked the team's former manager about his hopes for tonight's match. We do

begin tonight with breaking news out of Venezuela.

Top government official says at least, 920 lives have been lost following those devastating earthquakes that hammered the country as another official

put it simply, the priority at this hour is to just save lives.

And rescuers are up really against the clock. They are trying to save those trapped under rubble before the so-called golden hour of 72 hours close. In

many cases, those crews are forced to dig with their bare hands to try to free those trapped.

Thousands of people are missing. It is an agonizing wait for family members desperate to hear word from their loved ones. The global relief effort,

though, is ramping up. Spain, Colombia, Mexico and the U.S. among those bringing crews and badly-needed supplies to Venezuela.

Stefano Pozzebon has been on the story right from the beginning. He joins us now on the relief efforts, he is in neighboring Colombia. So, Stefano,

there is very much this race against time right now. Speak to what you're hearing from officials on the ground and the mood on the ground. Because I

was speaking to some Venezuelans who are deeply frustrated about the speed of this.

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, absolutely. Unfortunately, the news out of Caracas are not good, Isa. The spokesman for the Venezuelan

government and speaker of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, just updated the media, I'm talking about minutes ago.

Saying that the new death toll is at one -- 920 people have been killed in this double earthquake that hit Venezuela at the end of Wednesday

afternoon.

In good news, he's also said that more than 800 foreign nationals have traveled to the country already trying to bring, however, support they can,

and these are specialized rescue officers from -- just like you said, the United States, of course.

But also, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, the Dominican and Europe, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Spain all mobilizing units towards

Caracas. The real challenge is to mobilize the aid. This is the latest that is happening on the streets of Caracas. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POZZEBON (voice-over): Panic on board as passengers brace through powerful tremors, just one glimpse of the chaos unleashed after two massive

earthquakes struck Venezuela. This image from the public broadcaster "TeleSUR" shows large cracks and split in the tarmac at Caracas

International Airport, underscoring the damage to critical infrastructure.

Tens of thousands are still reported missing. Emergency teams are racing against time to dig through shattered concrete, listening for any sign of

life. In the Caracas district of Chacao, rescuers pulled survivors from a collapsed apartment building while others remain trapped inside.

MAYOR GUSTAVO DUQUE, CHACAO, CARACAS (through translator): We have rescued three people, and there are three more alive inside the structure. God-

willing, they will be rescued very soon.

POZZEBON: As Venezuela struggles to cope with the scale of the disaster, international help is finally trickling in. But the logistical challenges

to mobilize the aid remain. These relief convoys loaded with food and water, are heading towards the hardest hit communities as officials work to

support tens of thousands of displaced families.

[14:05:00]

While the priority remains to rescue survivors before time runs out. Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, Bogota, Colombia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

POZZEBON: So, Isa, you can feel that, yes, the aid is coming to Venezuela, that doesn't mean that it's reaching the population most affected by this

tragedy. And another thing that I've -- I'm hearing from the ground, from both our colleagues, we have two teams out in the streets of Caracas

already trying to bring you the news and the latest as soon as possible.

But also speaking with sources and just friends and real close friends that still live in the Venezuelan city and the Venezuelan capital, the real

challenge is heavy machinery. Even the Venezuelan officials will say that they do not have enough heavy machinery.

And I'm talking bulldozers, excavators, in Venezuela, we call them yellow machines because most of them are from Caterpillar, the U.S.-based company.

Those are the machines that are most needed in order to remove the debris and the rubble from under which most of the survivors are still trapped.

Just like the mayor of Chacao said in that piece, that they were able to rescue three people, but three more were left alive, but under the rubble.

So, in order to get hold of them, they need heavy machinery.

They need to leave the big slabs of concrete that may weigh hundreds, if not thousands of kilograms. And because of that and the difficulty of

mobilizing all of the machines, this race against time is getting frantic by the hour, I'm afraid. Isa?

SOARES: Yes, and we saw this -- as you're talking, Stefano, I want to -- I'm going to get my producer to bring up those live images again. Al, can

you bring them up? These are live images coming to us --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes --

SOARES: From Caracas, because as you were talking exactly about that, we have seen people in the last 24 hours doing what they can, lifting rubble

with their bare hands, Stefano, yesterday --

POZZEBON: Yes --

SOARES: On the show, we were hearing one official calling for help for a crane because they didn't have a crane. It speaks to that. And this is the

challenge, isn't --

POZZEBON: Yes --

SOARES: It? It's a huge challenge for Delcy Rodrguez because as I was speaking to a colleague on the ground today, Venezuela is just not equipped

for something of the scale, for a tragedy of this scale.

POZZEBON: Yes, and I think you can read it behind the plea that Jorge Rodriguez, that's his brother and the spokesperson for the government made

when he delivered this latest bulletin half an hour ago on national television.

He made a plea asking people not to go -- volunteers not to go to La Guaira state because, yes, they're trying to mobilize as many resources as

possible.

But of course, the amount of people that are trying to come in and try to help however they can in this race against time, could make things even

worse because they're congesting the few highways and communication routes that Venezuela can rely on, that the security and rescue officers can rely

on.

It's really a situation between a rock and a hard place. On one side, you have an institution that is not equipped to dealing with the magnitude of

this catastrophe. On the other, you have a population that is all too willing to come to the rescue to help, to physically move slabs of concrete

with their bare hands.

But perhaps, if this effort is not coordinated and aptly managed, it can make things even worse. And we've seen in other parts of the world that

sometimes the rescue effort -- the chaos of the rescue efforts can be just as damaging as the actual impact of the earthquake itself.

It's a bad situation no matter how you look at it, Isa, you know, we're struck that we can't get into the country, and we would like to be there to

report that -- those -- this news from closer to bring you those stories.

But it's just -- it's just a desperate situation coming out of Caracas. Like whoever you speak with, they will tell you that the country is not

equipped to deal with what is -- with what is going on, and people are getting more and more affected by it unfortunately. Isa?

SOARES: Yes, more and more anxious, of course, more anxious of wait for word of their loved ones, so many missing. You can understand why people

are literally taking things into their own hands. Stefano Pozzebon, good to see you my friend, thank you very much indeed.

Well, later in the show, I'll speak with a deputy director for Humanitarian Emergencies of the Spanish Cooperation Agency, who has arrived in Caracas

with his -- with his team, and we'll have that in about 20 minutes or so right here on the show.

Well, the twin quakes are testing, as Stefano was saying there, a Venezuelan health system that has been in crisis for years. Aid groups say

reaching hospitals, homes and those in need remains very difficult for teams working on the ground.

[14:10:00]

Teams often have to clamber through rubble and debris to deliver vital treatment. Hospitals we're being told are also overwhelmed. I want to take

a look at the state of the healthcare in Venezuela with Dr. Huniades Urbina-Medina; who is a pediatrician who joins us now from Caracas.

Doctor, thank you very much for taking the time to speak to us. You probably heard my colleague talking about just the magnitude of this

catastrophe, and how Venezuela is not equipped for this.

From a medical perspective, first of all, just tell us what you have been seeing. You and your colleagues have been seeing for the past 48 hours.

HUNIADES URBINA-MEDINA, VENEZUELAN PEDIATRICIAN: See, thank you very much for the opportunity. What we're seeing in our hospital in right now in

Venezuela with this catastrophe after the two earthquake is a very difficult situation for us because this earthquake cut us in a complex

humanitarian emergency that we have lived for more than 15 years.

Not same for us, same for the World Health Organization. So, we are lacking of antibiotics. We are lacking of other important medical supplies in the

emergency rooms and operating rooms that make us very difficult to give to our patients.

A quite well attention in the hospital. Two of the hospitals in Caracas has collapsed because the structure is very old, and there's no maintenance --

no -- do the things every -- well. So, we have to send our patient to different hospital in Venezuela that almost in the same lacking of medical

-- of medicines that the whole Venezuela is going through the last 15 years.

SOARES: Doctor, you just said -- and correct me if I'm wrong, that two of the hospitals in Caracas have collapsed. Can you just tell me that, clear

that for me. What hospitals were these? Can you just clarify this?

URBINA-MEDINA: Yes, the one hospital in the area of metropolitan area of Caracas hospital. The coach is in two blocks of the building collapsed, one

over the other, and the other hospital is in La Guaira, where is the most terrible thing that happened during this earthquake.

SOARES: Yes, and we've seen the scenes out of La Guaira. In fact, we are just playing some of them now on TV for our viewers, it's one of the most

affected, it seems, doctor. And already, I've covered -- I've reported from hospitals inside Venezuela.

They have been -- you know, facing lack of necessary resources for many years, as viewers will know. What does --

URBINA-MEDINA: Yes --

SOARES: Something of this scale, catastrophe of this scale -- what does that mean for everyday for patients every day? Give us a sense of hospital

beds, something like aspirin, imaging equipment. Do you have -- what do you need, doctor?

URBINA-MEDINA: Well, we need many things. First, we need water. We don't have enough water in the hospital for the patient, for all the things we

have to do. We need antibiotics. We need anesthetic.

We need even the sheets, paper sheets for the beds of the patient. We also need other things, of course, solution, intravenous solution. We are

lacking all this before the earthquake, before the pandemic, before the blockade of the United States.

So, we -- this emergency of this catastrophe faced us with all this lacking, all this with the collapsed healthcare system in Venezuela. It's

very hard for us, all the medicals and nurses to face this patient that needs all these things, and we don't have more than or willingness to help

them in this situation.

SOARES: Have you seen, doctor, have you -- have you seen aid starting to trickle in? Are you starting to see some of those items of shortages you're

talking about? Have they started to arrive yet, doctor?

URBINA-MEDINA: It's -- I think they're arriving to Venezuela. But the thing is that health minister, there's no -- they distribute these things with

transparency. We don't know what arrived to Venezuela. We don't know where are those things that are coming from the international helping --

SOARES: Yes --

[14:15:00]

URBINA-MEDINA: So, we don't know -- we don't know the medical person, all the medical assistance. We don't know where is all those help that is

coming from international help -- helping or aid to Venezuela. That's the problem.

SOARES: How much -- yes, indeed. How much trust then, doctor, given what you've just said. Do you have in the government of Delcy Rodriguez, who was

part, of course, of Nicolas Maduro's team for many years?

And I don't want to politicize this, but this is about, you know, having a handle on a catastrophe of this magnitude, how much faith and belief that

you have -- do you have that this government under Delcy Rodriguez has a handle on this crisis?

URBINA-MEDINA: For of course, we don't -- we don't believe what they say. For example, we know until today that other -- or there was only 250 killed

person. And now, because you tell us that more almost -- that 1,000 people killed during the earthquake, that's the problem that they say one thing

inside Venezuela and say another thing and try to see that the world that he -- all is OK.

He knows -- is OK. We haven't seen people, we are or as you say, in the beginning of the interview, the family is trying with their bare hands,

trying to rescue the patient under the collapsed building --

SOARES: The rubble.

URBINA-MEDINA: We haven't --

SOARES: Yes --

URBINA-MEDINA: Seen any big scene trying to do that. It's very terrible for a population. See that the government is facing to other side and not into

Venezuela.

SOARES: Yes, and that is a huge concern why so many people will be using their bare hands to try and -- to try and clear the rubble. Doctor, really

appreciate you taking the time to speak to us there live from Caracas. Thank you very much indeed.

And like the doctor was saying at the top of the hour, we brought you the breaking news that government -- top government officials saying in the

last few moments that at least 920 lives have been lost in Venezuela.

We'll stay across this breaking news for you. And we have more breaking news -- and we have more breaking news for you. In the past few minutes,

Israel and Lebanon have reached a framework agreement.

It is reportedly said to include the IDF partially withdrawing from southern Lebanon. The U.S. Secretary of State says the agreement begins to

put in place a framework for lasting peace and security. Let's go to Kevin Liptak in Washington. So, Kevin, what more do we know about this framework

agreement, what's in it?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Right, and this was the product of four days of negotiations here in Washington, brokered by the United States

that brought together Israel and Lebanon to try and achieve this framework, understanding what Marco Rubio said today was that, it was a good day.

But even he acknowledged that there would be a lot of work ahead of them in order to reach a lasting peace deal, a lasting ceasefire inside of Lebanon.

And what this deal prescribes is these, quote, "pilot zones", two small areas of southern Lebanon where Israeli forces would withdraw, and the

Lebanese armed forces would go in with assistance from the U.S. military to ensure that Hezbollah is not operating within the region.

And this is seen, I think as an initial effort, sort of a maiden effort towards Israeli withdrawal from the region. But what you hear Israeli

officials saying is that they sort of maintain the right to operate in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah continues to operate in that area.

The one big question in this deal is whether Hezbollah will abide by it, because they were not a party to these negotiations. The deal sort of

insists that a ceasefire holds in this area. But of course, one party to the firing was not party to the negotiations.

And so, that clearly will be a big question going forward. But getting this in place will certainly in the hopes of the Americans, unlock the broader

peace negotiations with Iran. Remember, we are in the 60-day period, part of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Actually, the first paragraph of the Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Iran was a cessation of hostilities across the region, but

specifically, and including in Lebanon. And so, this is a step in that direction.

But even Marco Rubio acknowledging that it is just the first step, and that the future steps will be far more difficult.

[14:20:00]

SOARES: Yes, and like you pointed out, Hezbollah is not part of this. So, appreciate it. I know this is breaking news, we are following all the

details. Thank you very much, Kevin, for laying it all out for us.

And still to come tonight, a continent in the grip of a record-breaking heatwave, the latest on where the heat-dome that has been scorching parts

of Europe is heading to, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: Well, it's been another day of record-breaking heat in Europe. The Netherlands has issued its first-ever code red alert. Temperature records

have already been shattered in other countries such as France and the U.K.

Britain's Met office issued a red warning for extreme heat for a record third day today. But there is hope for some relief starting this weekend as

the heat-wave moves east. But that means countries like Italy will see that heat intensify this weekend.

This infrared video you can see there, do not adjust your TVs, just to explain what you're looking at. It captures really the excruciating heat

outdoor workers are already facing in Rome, temperatures in Italy could hit 104 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend, or 40 degrees Celsius.

Well, Paris is banning drinking alcohol in public, with the city's police chief warning about the health dangers in the extreme heat. The ban came

into effect this afternoon ahead of France's match against Norway in the World Cup, which I believe is starting any minute now.

Paris Pride has also been postponed until September. Saskya Vandoorne has more from a city that's been at the epicenter of this heatwave.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SASKYA VANDOORNE, CNN PARIS BUREAU CHIEF (on camera): People in France are fed up. They're tired because it's been a week of these really high

temperatures, and they haven't been able to sleep. Most households here just do not have air-conditioning.

So, now, authorities are taking more and more drastic measures to try and protect citizens. Hospitals are under increasing strain across the country.

The Paris police chief, to try and ease the burden, has banned Parisians from drinking alcohol outdoors in public, starting at noon today.

Paris officials have also asked the organizers behind Pride March to cancel the march on Saturday. Other measures that have been taken, over 10,000

schools have been closed or the school day have been shortened again because these buildings just do not have AC.

And three nuclear reactors have been shut down to try and protect the river ecosystems, to try and keep those river temperatures low. Now, there is

some respite in sight as French forecaster Michel Haas(ph) has said that on Sunday, temperatures should ease. Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[14:25:00]

SOARES: But temperatures could soar in Germany and other parts of central Europe this weekend as the heat-dome moves east. Allison Chinchar is at the

World Weather Center to explain. Allison, good to see you. Look, I know 104 degrees Fahrenheit potentially isn't much for viewers in the United States.

But in this part here of Europe, and that just how intense it has been, this is -- this has been quite serious.

ALLISON CHINCHAR, METEOROLOGIST: You say that, but you know what I think? Even Americans, if we had won 104 for several days in a row, if not a week

--

SOARES: Yes --

CHINCHAR: I think we'd be tired of it, too. Yes, I think that's the key here, is that I think most people can handle this, maybe for a day or so,

but not the prolonged nature that this heatwave has really been impacting these areas.

This is current temperatures, I want you to understand, we're starting to head into the evening hours here into Europe, and these are still

sweltering temperatures. Upper 90s, and Leon barely just under the triple- digits in terms of Fahrenheit temperatures.

Now, when we switch over to metric again, you're looking at all of these areas that are mid to upper 30s. And this has been the case for the last 5

to 7 days for many of these countries. Even as we head into the weekend, a lot of these areas are still going to see those temperatures either

holding steady or in some cases, especially as you head into eastern Europe, they're actually going to be headed in the upwards direction.

So, here's what we're talking about. Again, you've got Paris again, not too bad once we can get to Sunday and Monday, but you've got one more day of

that incredibly high heat in Paris. Same thing for Bordeaux, same thing in London.

But Berlin and Vienna, for example, it's going to be multiple days before we finally start to see those temperatures coming back down. Those are the

Fahrenheit temperatures. Here's the Celsius again, same thing still some days where we have those upper 30s and even right around 40 degrees.

And that's going to be a concern. This is why though. So, that high pressure system is finally going to start to slide even farther east. And

what that's going to do is, it's going to make it even hotter for those countries, but finally provide at least some relief for some of these

areas.

The caveat is that we may see a return to it, especially to the Iberian Peninsula once we get to the middle to late part of next week.

SOARES: Allison, thank you very much indeed, have a wonderful weekend. And still to come right here on the show, the overwhelming challenges facing

rescuers in Venezuela who are working right around the clock trying to reach those trapped under the rubble. We'll have the latest on those

efforts from Caracas next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:30:37]

SOARES: Welcome back everyone. Officials in Venezuela now say the death toll from back-to-back earthquakes has reached at least 920 people. Amid

the mountains of debris from those collapsed buildings, rescue crews and medics are struggling to reach survivors right now. Thousands remain

unaccounted for.

The international relief effort is in full swing with aid arriving from Venezuela's South American neighbors, the U.S., and indeed from Europe.

Venezuelan officials say a wave of machinery, supplies, and aid workers are on the way to the hardest hit areas.

I want to bring in journalist Mary Triny Mena. She joins us from Caracas in Venezuela. Mary Triny, I mean, for so many right now, it really is a race

against time. We've seen Venezuelans using their bare hands to try and move some of this rubble. You've been out on the streets. Just tell our viewers

what you've been seeing.

MARY TRINY MENA, JOURNALIST: Yes, I witnessed that firsthand yesterday when I went to La Guaira, which is the place that is most affected by these

earthquakes. And it was heartbreaking seeing how people was -- were jailing to the buildings, trying to find mostly their family members. And they were

there waiting for hours just waiting and seeing if something moves, if there was a signal that they can say there's a life in there.

Mostly family members and neighbors began the operations in order to try to look people under the debris. But right now there are rescue teams from all

over the world as you said reaching Venezuela and that is hopeful for them because one of the thing that they told us yesterday is that they are in

desperate need of more hands and more resources to find more people alive in these hours that are crucial to find more living people.

SOARES: Yes. And for so many people, of course, we've seen a lot of rescue workers starting to arrive, of course, from right around the world. That is

a huge relief, I imagine, for so many Venezuelans. How frustrated are they about how the government is handling this?

MENA: Well, it is -- it's quite difficult because I saw the worst and the best of humanity yesterday. You can see people delivering for free water,

food, trying to reach areas that are unexplored or long-distant areas that are not touched by those servicemen that are helping. And they say we need

the help of the humanitarian -- the international community to get here.

And also you witness some people trying to get advantage of the situation trying to break into commercial stores, they say in need of the -- of food

and also other things, but they also were taking electronic devices for example. So, it's quite different the situation. The government is saying

that La Guaira is now for example militarized in order to preserve the security in the area. And also they are saying that if they want to help in

some sort of way, they need to avoid going to that places, to the places where buildings that have fallen. And they say they if they want to send

donations, there will be two donation centers in Caracas.

There's a lot of people in Venezuela not only abroad but also inside of Venezuela trying to help on those states that weren't tossed by the air

quakes and they are sending all the aid that they can. For example, diapers or water or food anything that they can -- they can receive. Also doctors

that came from other places of Venezuela that are in need right now.

SOARES: Yes, Mary Triny, I really appreciate you taking the time to talk us through the very latest. You've been doing a terrific job on the ground.

Thank you very much indeed.

Well, aid from its Latin American neighbors, as Mary Triny was saying there, has arrived in Venezuela. State media says search and rescue teams

from El Salvador, Chile, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico are now in the country, as you can see being welcome there. The new teams are being used

to reach any survivors trapped in the rubble before time runs out. According to experts, rescue crews have the best chance of reaching

survivors within 48 to 72 hours of being trapped.

I want to bring into the conversation now Paco Siguenza. He's the deputy director for humanitarian emergencies of the Spanish Cooperation Agency.

Paco, really appreciate you being with us this hour. Just give us a sense first of all of what you seen, your initial reaction, and the scale of the

damage and the destruction.

[14:35:52]

PACO SIGUENZA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCIES, SPANISH COOPERATION AGENCY: OK. Well, thank you very much for this opportunity.

Well, as you know, the -- there's many, many Spaniards in Venezuela. It's more than 200,000 of Spanish people that is actually -- are actually living

here. And well, there's about 100 that are missing and we sadly have four deaths.

The -- our first -- well, the first feeling says OK the Spanish government wants to react as soon as possible. We sent -- this morning we have arrived

to Venezuela with two heavy -- or two medium user teams that they are now actually just arriving to La Guaira and they are preparing to respond with

the Venezuelan authorities and they have many, many equipment with them, dogs and very professional firefighters.

The idea -- the first thing they said is try to do our best to support the Venezuelan citizens and our -- also our Spanish citizens.

SOARES: And Paco from what I understand I think 40 Spanish aid workers are in Venezuela. This is what I'm being told. 800 international aid workers in

total. How -- just go about -- just explain to our viewers how you go about the search and rescue operation of this magnitude because the buildings are

so different and the damage does vary quite a lot from what we have seen. How do you -- where do you start?

SIGUENZA: Well, it's going to depend about -- of -- it's going to depend on the number of the teams that are actually deployed on field. It depends --

all the earthquakes -- all the earthquakes are different one of each other because the construction -- the -- well, many constructions are made of

wood, others are of stone. And it's not the same in Morocco for instance that were -- was in 2023, or in Turkey also in 2020 that one of the -- two

of these teams -- of the Spanish teams was deployed because of the earthquake of Turkey.

The first action is establish a common base of operation and after that they prepare and they start to share the different areas of working. The

dogs starts to search the bodies if -- and then a team of specialist on constructions try -- they will analyze the possibilities damage and the

danger of work in this collapsed scenario.

SOARES: Yes.

SIGUENZA: So, well, it depends but it's a question of coordination also.

SOARES: Yes. And I imagine now, Paco, that's exactly what is happening as so many rescue teams and aid workers are coming in. It is about that

coordination. Do you -- what have you been told in the hours ahead of course that you'll be focusing on? We've been showing video. I'm not sure

if my producer can put it up again of La Guaira seems to be the area that's been most affected. We've seen quite a lot of buildings that have been

pancaked.

Do you have a sense of what the next steps will be for you and your team? Give us -- give us a sense of what the hours ahead will look like.

SOARES: Well, the first hours is going to be like a little bit mess because many teams will arrive and there -- as I said -- it's a question of

coordination. But all of them, many of them are very well trained. And I'm sure that they could find a way of working so easily and so fast. The -- as

your colleague says, the first 28 hours -- 48 hours are crucial. As soon as they start working, as soon as we can find alive people in the collapsed

buildings.

But the -- after this search and rescue teams, the medical teams will arrive. That is the common use of the in the in emergencies. And there's a

Spanish EMT, emergency medical team type one, that is now preparing in Spain. And we expect they arrive on the next week.

[14:41:02]

SOARES: Paco, I really appreciate you taking the time or your very busy schedule to speak to us. We're grateful to you and the entire Spanish team

for all the work you are doing on the ground. Paco Siguenza there who is the head of course of this operation for the Spanish side. Thank you very

much, Paco. I appreciate it.

Now we're going to leave Venezuela for just a moment and turn to the United States. Uncertainty in the U.S. for thousands of migrants after a

controversial Supreme Court decision. Still to come tonight, we'll hear from some Haitian migrants and what they're saying about the ruling. And

then later, two of the greatest goal scorers on the planet are due to face off today. A World Cup preview is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: Well, turmoil in the U.S. for hundreds of thousands of migrants who are in the country under temporary protected status. On Thursday, the

Supreme Court said the Department of Homeland Security could end the TPS designation for many countries. And this means about one million people,

many from Haiti and Syria, can be deported back to their home countries.

There are currently 17 countries with a temporary protected status designation. The Trump administration has moved to end it for 13 of those

countries. But behind the legal rulings are migrants who have built lives in the United States, about 350,000 migrants under protected status are

from Haiti. Many have been in the U.S. since the original designation in 2010. Now they fear having to go back.

Christina Vazquez from WPLG, our affiliate in Miami has their story.

[14:45:13]

CHRISTINA VAZQUEZ, WPLG REPORTER (voice-over): News of the Supreme Court's decision rippled through members of South Florida's Haitian community

gathered at Miami City Hall to protest the city's agreement with immigration and customs enforcement.

PAUL CHRISTIAN NAMPHY, LEAD ORGANIZER AND POLITICAL DIRECTOR, FAMILY ACTION NETWORK MOVEMENT: All of these battles are intertwined.

TESSA PETIT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FLORIDA IMMIGRANT COALITION: My people, they can't go back. It's real. The reality in Haiti is real.

VAZQUEZ (voice-over): In a six-to-three vote, the Supreme Court gave the Trump administration the green light to end temporary protected status for

more than a quarter of a million Haitians.

NAMPHY: There is no grounds for terminating Haiti TPS. Based on the country conditions inside Haiti, this is absolutely absurd.

VAZQUEZ (voice-over): But with the State Department level four do not travel advisory still in place for Haiti, TPS Haiti advocates say the

Supreme Court's decision is cruel. They described forced deportations to the gang-riddled nation like a death sentence.

SANTCHA ETIENNE, BLACK ALLIANCE FOR JUST IMMIGRATION: I would not say we would like going back. We're going to stick together. We're going to keep

on fighting.

PETIT: The battle is not over.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: And our thanks to Christina Vazquez from WPLG for that. And do stay tuned in the next hour for Max Foster and "WHAT WE KNOW." He'll have much

more, of course, on this story.

And we want to bring you an update on the situation in Crimea. After weeks of intensive Ukrainian air strikes, Russian-backed authorities have

declared a state of emergency in Crimea, in what could potentially mark a significant military setback.

Now, the escalating attacks by Kyiv have led to widespread power outages and fuel shortages on the strategically important peninsula that serves as

a crucial logistics hub for Russian weapons and supplies. Ukraine has recently intensified its attacks, as we've been showing you in the show, in

an effort to bring Vladimir Putin back to the negotiating table. Moscow illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine back in 2014. A move widely condemned

on the world stage.

Still to come on the show tonight, the underdogs the world has fallen in love with. Cape Verde seek to advance to the knockout round of the World

Cup today. We will tell you what they need, and I'll speak to their former manager.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:50:04]

SOARES: Well, we are getting closer to wrapping up group stage matches at the World Cup. The big highlight today for many people is France versus

Norway, and that's happening in just a few minutes, less than 10 minutes. Both teams are through to the knockout round, but the winner today will win

the group. There are five other matches today as Spain and Egypt wrap up their respective group games.

Now, the underdog darlings of the tournament are also in action today. Cape Verde or Cape Verde will play Saudi Arabia and are assured of reaching the

knockout stage with a win and maybe even with a tie. Cape Verde drew worldwide attention with their remarkable tie against heavily favored Spain

and then showed that result was no fluke when they also fought to a draw against Uruguay.

Joining us now is the former manager of the Cape Verde's Men's National Team, Rui Aguas. Rui, welcome to the show. Look, I'm really excited. I'm m

sure many people are very excited as well and rooting for Cape Verde here. What are your expectations, first of all, for the match against Saudi?

RUI AGUAS, FORMER MANAGER, CAPE VERDE MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM: Hi! It's a pleasure to be with you. It's difficult to say what can we do more. They do

more. Not me anymore. But we are very happy about the team, about the results, unexpected of course results, but they -- I think they deserve it.

And now against Saudi Arabia, it's two national teams at the same level more or less. And we can compete to go through.

SOARES: And look, Rui, the tournament really has introduced Cape Verde to the world. They've had a historic run at this -- at their first World Cup.

And they've been really holding their own, haven't they? As we were saying, with other leading teams. I mean, he drew with Spain. Were you surprised at

all by how far they have come and just how much love they're getting from around the world?

AGUAS: All the love is possible. I was not expecting this first game against Spain. We didn't imagine -- the most optimistic view was not making

points. Then a new -- good beginning or really good beginning could be the way to go to the next phase.

SOARES: The next phase. Look, I understand that you coached several of the players in the team, Vozinha, Pico Lopes. What makes this a standout team?

AGUAS: The way they play, the way they are with themselves, I never saw -- I was a player before and I played for -- also for the national team,

Portuguese National Team and I never saw something like this spirit, this attitude, this friendship, and I think is the most important thing.

The coach, of course, has made excellent work and it's the only way to get the points against these big nations. It's the way the team -- the humility

of the team, the simplicity of the people. It's just that -- just but very important -- main thing.

SOARES: Yes. And you can see the teamwork on the ground as they play. I had read, Rui, and I'm not sure if you can correct me on this, that you know --

that during your time as manager for Cape Verde, that the Cape Verdean F.A. had to go to LinkedIn to recruit players and that apparently this was the

case for Pico Lopes who now I believe plays for the Irish first division. Is there any truth to this?

AGUAS: Not -- yes, of course not FA. I made it by myself because in Cape Verde, we don't have the possibility to travel, to go watch -- to go to

speak with players. You have to make it from a distance. And because in Cape Verde where there is no professional championship, we have to search

out of the country. And someone told me about Pico. Someone -- I think it was his uncle. I don't know his name. And then I watch him playing in the

video and I tried to talk with him by LinkedIn. And I sent a message in Portuguese. Roberto Lopes, I thought he might he might know about

Portuguese, and he didn't answer. And I was disappointed.

And after almost -- after almost one year, I contact him again and he didn't answer again.

SOARES: Yes.

AGUAS: In English.

SOARES: And we're starting to run out of time. Did he -- but he replied. I can see he replied, Rui. We're running out of time, unfortunately.

AGUAS: OK. OK.

SOARES: We've got 30 seconds or so on the show. But look, you got him and that's the most important thing, and you prepared them. Rui, I really

appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. And we're very grateful. We wish Cape Verde all the best.

AGUAS: He's the most important player in Cape Verde.

SOARES: Thank you very much. That does it for us. Thank you very much. Do stay right here. "WHAT WE KNOW" with Max Foster is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END