Local and international rescue teams continued to search for survivors in Venezuela on Sunday, four days after two powerful earthquakes struck the northern state of La Guaira. The government reported 1,450 deaths as of Sunday afternoon, with thousands more missing. The response has faced growing criticism from Venezuelans who deem it inadequate and overshadowed by civilian-led efforts.
Despite the diminishing likelihood of finding people alive as time passed, rescuers managed to free some survivors from mountains of debris, offering a glimmer of hope to anguished families. The crucial first 48 to 72 hours for rescue efforts had passed, though survival is possible if individuals have access to food and water. Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez stated Sunday night that the search for survivors would persist. More than 2,600 international rescue workers, equipped with trained search dogs and machinery, have arrived in the country, according to the government.
"It’s been incredibly hard work, but we’re going strong," said Jason Mercano, a civilian assisting rescue teams to extract his family members from the rubble. "We've never given up hope."
However, many Venezuelans are struggling to maintain hope amid a desperate situation. The consecutive 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck last Wednesday have caused widespread devastation. The United Nations estimates that up to 6.8 million of Venezuela's nearly 30 million residents may be affected by the earthquakes. A layer of dust covers coastal communities, and the smell of decomposing bodies has led more people to wear masks.
Authorities reported that more than 770 buildings had either completely or partially collapsed, a figure twice as high as reported on Friday. The risk of further damage remains, with aftershocks measuring 4.2 and 4.5 magnitude hitting on Sunday morning.
Rescue efforts in La Guaira, the most heavily affected area, appeared more organized on Sunday following the arrival of international missions. In the preceding days, residents had voiced frustration and anger regarding the insufficient government response. The government stated on state television that over 14,000 military and police personnel were deployed to La Guaira state, where access is restricted and requires special permits.
Due to communication disruptions and poor cellphone service since the earthquakes, many Venezuelans have turned to non-governmental digital databases to report missing loved ones. Over 50,000 people were listed as missing on one such database, though it remains unclear how many have been located.
Moments of relief punctuated the widespread grief. Crowds gathered around a debris pile watched as rescue crews from the U.S., France, and Venezuela extricated a man and his son from a concrete crevice. The dust-covered and barely responsive individuals were carefully passed through the crowd to an ambulance for medical attention. Rescue teams and onlookers erupted in applause before resuming their work.
In another part of La Guaira, Helen Guedez and her mother were distraught after days of attempting to rescue her father, Jesús, from their collapsed apartment. While rescue teams from the U.S. initially confirmed her father was alive under the rubble, they deemed the building too unstable to enter. Guedez stated that she and other civilian volunteers and local miners would continue the rescue attempt independently. "We're not going to give up," she said. "The rest of the team is willing to continue. They know there's another way to get him out and they said they're going to keep working until the very end."
Domingo Luciani Hospital in Caracas has managed an influx of patients, many with crush injuries, thanks to numerous donations, despite existing shortages in Venezuela's public health system. "We have tons of patients, but thank god, people have responded by bringing us a great deal of supplies," said Leomery Pérez, an anesthesiologist at the hospital. Authorities reported treating more than 3,100 wounded individuals.
The disaster presents a significant challenge for acting President Rodríguez, who assumed office in January. The U.S. government has exerted increasing influence over the South American nation, which has experienced economic turmoil for over a decade, with many questioning the legitimacy of Rodríguez's political movement. Ronal Rodríguez, a researcher at the Venezuelan Observatory at the University of Rosario, noted that "political interference by the United States, the operational incompetence of a government that has driven the country into a complex humanitarian crisis and, all of the sudden, an earthquake in a place that lacks human capital and short-term resources to address the situation."
Amy Pope, director general of the International Organization for Migration, warned that displacement from Venezuela, where an eight-year crisis has caused 8 million people to migrate, is likely to increase as individuals seek safety. President Rodríguez announced the formation of a special commission to assess housing damage and determine if it is safe for people sleeping on the streets to return. Her government will also examine infrastructure damage. "Today we recovered people who are still alive," she said. "We always maintain hope."