Four days after the earthquakes
Rescue teams continue to search for survivors in the rubble in La Guaira state, Venezuela. Until now, the official death toll exceeds 1,450 people. Thousands of people remain missing.
Although the chances of finding people alive are reduced as the hours go by, this Sunday rescuers from the United States and France managed to extract a man and his son trapped under a collapsed building. The discovery renewed hope for dozens of families who are still waiting for news of their loved ones.
Criticism of the official response
Residents of the affected areas assure that the first rescue tasks were carried out by volunteers and civilians. The government’s slowness in addressing the emergency has generated strong questions. Authorities report that more than 770 buildings were destroyed or severely damaged.
The United Nations confirmed the participation of more than 2,200 rescuers from various countries in the operations. The International Organization for Migration warned that up to six million people could be affected, including about two million residents of Caracas.
As the aftershocks continue, the risk of new landslides persists. Emergency teams continue searching through the collapsed buildings. The Simón Bolívar International Airport is still in the process of reestablishing operations to facilitate the arrival of international aid.
