Venezuelan search teams continue rescue efforts after devastating 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes, which struck on Wednesday. Death tolls have reached 235, with over 4,300 injured and thousands reported missing. Health Minister Carlos Alvarado noted many patients arrived without vital signs.
Authorities are diverting rescue resources to La Guaira, heavily impacted by the disaster. The coastal region is critical, housing the country's main airport, now closed due to damage. Residents expressed frustration over slow government responses, pushing for immediate aid and equipment to expedite recovery.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez is facing mounting challenges as her administration deals with both the earthquake's aftermath and ongoing economic instability. Global offers for support have emerged, including a temporary easing of U.S. sanctions for earthquake relief.
Rescue operations focus on locating the missing as families search rubble and debris for loved ones. Rodriguez has urged businesses to assist with heavy machinery for the rescue process. "We hope to rescue as many living people as possible," she stated, emphasizing the urgency in La Guaira, termed a “disaster zone.”