ONE WEEK AFTER VENEZUELA QUAKES – Hopes of finding more survivors fade as rescue efforts continue
One week after twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela, hopes of finding more survivors are beginning to fade as rescue teams continue searching through mountains of debris across the country’s northern coast.
The disaster has claimed more than 1,700 lives, with around 5,000 people injured, while tens of thousands have been displaced from their homes. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed or severely damaged, particularly in La Guaira state, one of the areas hardest hit by the quakes.
Authorities say international support has arrived from 30 countries, bringing more than 1,000 metric tons of emergency supplies, alongside 3,600 rescue and support personnel and 118 search-and-rescue dogs.
Despite several remarkable rescues in recent days, including a toddler pulled alive from rubble after six days, officials acknowledge that the chances of finding additional survivors are diminishing with each passing day.
