Search operations for survivors from the Venezuelan earthquake continue despite several days passing and shrinking hopes of finding survivors. The death toll has recently surpassed 2,200, with over 40,000 people still missing.
International rescue teams are still intensively searching through collapsed buildings in La Guaira state, the most severely affected area from Venezuela’s major earthquake, despite the passage of several days and declining hopes of finding survivors.
The atmosphere in the area is filled with sorrow, as many families of the missing continue to wait with hope. Among them is Luzimer Rangel, who tearfully said that although many are losing hope, she still believes her brother may be alive beneath the rubble.
Jorge Rodriguez, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, revealed that officials and over 4,000 international rescuers are working at full capacity. So far, they have rescued 6,461 victims, including a young girl who was helped on Tuesday.
Rodriguez emphasized that although time is passing and chances of finding survivors are decreasing, authorities continue searching, assuring that hope remains and they will not stop looking for those who may still be trapped under debris.
Venezuelan authorities reported that the earthquake on 24 June has caused at least 2,295 deaths and over 11,000 injuries.
Additionally, thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and are living in temporary shelters or outdoors amid shortages of clean water and poor sanitation, raising the risk of disease outbreaks post-disaster.
While officials have yet to confirm the exact number of missing persons, a digital database maintained by civil organizations, which allows families to report missing individuals, indicated that as of Wednesday (1 Jul), more than 40,600 people remain unaccounted for.
These figures reflect the long road ahead for search and rescue efforts, as many families continue to wait near collapsed buildings, hoping to find loved ones alive or, at minimum, to recover bodies for proper religious rites.
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