CARACAS: Rescue teams in Venezuela are racing against time to search for survivors after twin powerful earthquakes devastated large parts of the country, with the death toll approaching 1,450 and tens of thousands of people still believed to be trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
International rescue operations have intensified in the worst-hit coastal state of La Guaira, about 40 kilometres north of the capital, Caracas, where emergency crews continue to dig through rubble in search of survivors.
The disaster struck amid Venezuela’s ongoing political and economic challenges, further complicating relief and recovery efforts.
Interim President Jorge Rodriguez said 3,150 people had been injured, more than 12,721 displaced from their homes and at least 774 buildings completely destroyed.
Rescue experts warned that the crucial 72-hour window for locating survivors has largely passed, significantly reducing the chances of finding people alive beneath the debris.
Sebastian Eugster, who is leading an 80-member Swiss rescue team, said search dogs had detected signs of life under collapsed structures, but the likelihood of successful rescues continues to decline with each passing hour.
Despite the difficult conditions, rescue teams have reported several remarkable survivals. A Colombian rescue unit saved an 11-year-old boy, Moises, from beneath three metres of rubble using advanced scanning equipment. Although he suffered a broken arm, his mother and sister were killed in the earthquake.
Mexican rescue teams also rescued another 11-year-old boy in the town of Caraballeda, while US emergency crews recovered a baby alive from the rubble. Earlier, rescuers also pulled a father and son from a collapsed building.
Rodriguez announced the formation of a presidential commission to assess structural damage and oversee reconstruction efforts in the affected regions.
Authorities said schools would remain closed for another week, while electricity has been restored to around 75 per cent of La Guaira.
Access to several disaster-hit areas has been restricted by the government to facilitate rescue operations and ensure emergency vehicles can move freely.
Meanwhile, opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado announced plans to return to Venezuela from exile, a move that has generated political debate amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The disaster has also disrupted the country’s energy sector, with Venezuela’s largest oil refinery, Amuay, suspending operations following major power outages in Falcon state.
More than 2,600 international rescue workers are assisting local emergency teams across the country.
Pope Leo expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people during his Sunday Angelus prayer, offering prayers for the victims and thanking rescue personnel for their efforts.
The United States is also expected to announce an additional humanitarian assistance package worth hundreds of millions of dollars, adding to its earlier commitment of $150 million for relief and reconstruction efforts.