Rescue teams continued working on Sunday to locate survivors trapped in the rubble after powerful earthquakes in Venezuela, as hopes diminish with time running out.
The death toll has risen to 1,430, while tens of thousands of people have been reported missing as buildings collapsed across several cities in a country already facing economic crisis and political instability.
Authorities estimate that millions of people are left without basic sanitation and essential services following the disaster.
Experts say the first 72 hours after such events are critical for finding survivors. Beyond that, recovery efforts increasingly shift towards locating bodies.
An 11-year-old boy was rescued from the rubble in Carabalenda, north of Caracas, on Saturday, three days after the earthquakes.
Foreign aid
Twenty-four countries have sent 521 tonnes of supplies, along with 86 search units equipped with trained dogs capable of locating people trapped beneath debris, and more than 2,700 rescue personnel.
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher told Agence France-Presse on Friday that the death toll could continue to rise, adding that more than 50,000 people remain missing.
The United Nations has estimated the damage at $6.7 billion, equivalent to about six per cent of Venezuela’s GDP.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said she had spoken with US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who confirmed their commitment to support relief and recovery efforts.
Source: CNA, AFP
