Rescue Efforts Intensify Four Days After Deadly Venezuelan Quakes

Local and international rescue teams continued to search for survivors in La Guaira, Venezuela, four days after two powerful earthquakes struck the region. The government announced a death toll of 1,450 and said more than 770 buildings had collapsed or been partially destroyed, double the number reported earlier in the week.

Around 2,600 rescue workers from abroad had arrived by Sunday, supported by nearly 140 specially trained dogs. Civilians also took part in the effort; Jason Mercano, who communicated with family members trapped under rubble via social media, said, "> It’s been incredibly hard work, but we’re going strong," and added, "> We’ve never given up hope."

Rescue crews from the United States and France were observed pulling a man and his son from the ruins and transporting them on a tarp to an ambulance. Aftershocks measuring 4.2 and 4.5 magnitudes were felt on Sunday, keeping the risk of further damage high.

The acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, faces criticism over the response, while the public has turned to non-governmental digital databases to report missing relatives, with one platform listing more than 50,000 missing persons. In Caracas, Domingo Luciani Hospital treated over 3,100 injured patients, aided by donations of medical supplies, according to anesthesiologist Leomery Pérez.

The United Nations migration agency warned that up to 6.8 million people could be affected by the earthquakes, and the International Organization for Migration said displacement is expected to rise as people seek safety, according to its director general, Amy Pope.