Rescue crews continue searching for survivors after two powerful earthquakes devastated Venezuela last Wednesday, leaving more than 1,400 people dead and thousands still missing.
The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck less than a minute apart near the nation’s capital, Caracas, causing widespread destruction across the region. Since then, emergency responders from 24 countries, including the United States, have joined local crews in a race against time to locate anyone still trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
Hope emerged over the weekend as several survivors were pulled from the rubble, including a nine-month-old baby and the child’s mother, who were rescued by U.S. search teams after spending more than two days trapped. An 11-year-old child was also rescued after surviving three days beneath the debris.
Rescue officials say the critical 48- to 72-hour “golden window” for finding survivors has now passed, making each passing hour more challenging. Despite the odds, search teams continue working around the clock using specialized equipment and rescue dogs to search damaged buildings.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, along with other humanitarian organizations, has deployed emergency personnel and supplies to assist survivors. More than 2,700 international rescue workers have arrived in Venezuela as relief efforts shift from emergency rescues to long-term recovery and rebuilding.
The operation has been complicated by hundreds of aftershocks that continue to shake the region, creating dangerous conditions for both survivors and first responders.
Officials say the full extent of the damage is still being assessed as international aid continues to arrive and thousands of displaced residents await shelter, medical care and essential supplies.
