- Tens of thousands of people are still missing after two devastating earthquakes.
- More than 16,000 people remain homeless in the affected areas.
- Hospitals face growing strain amid concerns about disease outbreaks.
Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes have killed nearly 3,000 people, official figures showed on Saturday, as international rescue teams began scaling back search operations for survivors in the rubble.
Deaths rose by more than 300 since Friday to 2,954, following the June 24 disaster that left thousands homeless on the streets and in shelter camps.
Tens of thousands more remain missing.
One of the worst earthquakes in Latin America most strongly affected the coastal area of La Guaira, north of the capital, Caracas, where dozens of residential complexes were devastated.
Ten days after the double magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes, rescue teams are beginning to conclude the search for survivors, while families are still trying to recover the bodies of their loved ones from the rubble.
The critical window for rescues in disasters such as earthquakes usually ends after 72 hours, although some people have been found alive this week.
In an apparent sign that the rescue missions were coming to an end, interim president Delcy Rodríguez held a ceremony to present medals to the international teams, including some for their dogs.
Venezuela is experiencing “deep pain that overwhelms our people, where families still hope to find their loved ones alive, people who have lost everything,” said Rodríguez.
International disaster teams, including some U.S. squads, and some South American teams were beginning to finish rescue operations, their members said Saturday.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s rescue team is shutting down operations after recent searches showed no signs of life, and crews from Florida and Virginia were packing to leave this weekend, their teams said.
Many Venezuelans have expressed anger at what they see as their government’s slow response to the disaster, saying families spent the first few hours digging out their loved ones themselves before international teams arrived.
Rodríguez defended his government’s response, saying thousands of troops and officials had been sent.
In La Guaira, workers with heavy machinery began on Saturday to demolish collapsed structures, while in others families were still trying to remove the bodies of their loved ones for funerals.
“We’re still working, still looking for bodies. We’re still going. It hasn’t been easy,” said Venezuelan volunteer Francisco Sasquia who was helping to excavate a collapsed residence.
“We found two bodies that have already been handed over to their families.”
Many are now homeless; More than 16,000 Venezuelans have lost their homes in the earthquakes. Hospitals are stretched to breaking point and experts warn of the risk of disease outbreaks.
For Victor Colivert, the most important thing is to remain next to his nephew’s body, recovered from the rubble of a building and now in a black body bag.
He fears losing control in the chaos. His family stopped forensic workers from taking the body.
“If I have to go to China, wherever, but I won’t leave him alone,” he said. “I’m going with him.”
