Rescue teams in Venezuela are continuing a desperate search for survivors after two powerful earthquakes devastated parts of the country, leaving at least 1,450 people dead and thousands more feared missing.
Emergency workers say vast areas of collapsed buildings remain untouched, raising concerns that many survivors could still be trapped beneath the rubble. One rescuer described the scale of the disaster as overwhelming, saying there simply are not enough people to search every affected area.
Aid organisations have stressed that the first 48 to 72 hours after a major earthquake are the most critical for finding survivors, although people trapped with access to food and water may survive for longer. Rescue teams remain determined to continue searching despite the passing hours.
Families are refusing to give up hope. One man searching for a missing 14-year-old boy said he would continue believing until every possibility had been exhausted.
The twin earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck less than a minute apart while many people were at home observing a national holiday. The powerful tremors caused widespread destruction, reducing homes, apartment buildings and businesses to rubble across several communities.
As international rescue teams and humanitarian organisations continue arriving to assist, concerns are also growing over the speed and coordination of the government’s emergency response. Some affected communities have complained that rescue equipment and aid have been slow to reach the hardest-hit areas.
Authorities say search-and-rescue operations remain the top priority as medical teams, volunteers and international partners work around the clock to locate survivors and provide relief to thousands of displaced residents.
With tens of thousands of people still unaccounted for, officials warn that the death toll could continue to rise as emergency crews gain access to more collapsed buildings.
