Venezuela rescue efforts continue as 50,000 reported missing

Venezuela rescue efforts continue as 50,000 reported missing

A strong aftershock jolted Venezuela early Monday following last week’s devastating back-to-back earthquakes, as civilians and emergency responders kept combing through the ruins of fallen buildings.

An official of the Venezuelan National Assembly said there were no immediate reports of additional damage from the quake, which sent residents in Caracas screaming into the streets.

Wednesday's twin earthquakes have left close to 1,500 people confirmed dead. Rescue efforts ‌have been focusing ‌particularly on La Guaira, the hardest-hit state of the country.

Some 50,000 men, women and children are reported missing, and the likelihood of finding people alive diminishes with each passing hour.

Speaking during the Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Leo expressed closeness to all those affected by the quakes. He also said he is grateful to those who are “generously carrying out search and rescue efforts.”

Experts confirm that the first 48 to 72 hours after a natural disaster are crucial to rescue efforts, although survival can be extended if people trapped beneath the debris have access to food and water.

Venezuelans accuse the government of a response they say is inadequate and overshadowed by civilian-led rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez assured the population that the search for survivors will continue, supported by the arrival of more than 2,600 rescue workers from around the world who have brought trained search dogs and machinery.