Search efforts continue in Venezuela after devastating earthquake
Efforts to locate survivors in Venezuela following a powerful earthquake are ongoing, with rescuers working tirelessly amidst frustrations regarding the government’s response, reports BritPanorama.
Included in these rescue missions, a Colombian team successfully extracted an 11-year-old boy trapped beneath approximately 10 feet of debris. The boy was found using a scanner and transported on a stretcher with injuries, while his mother and sister reportedly did not survive. U.S. State Department officials posted a video on X showcasing rescuers lifting a crying baby from the rubble.
The United Nations humanitarian agency announced the deployment of 44 international urban search-and-rescue teams, involving 2,245 specialists and 140 search dogs. Additional rescue teams, including those from Israel, arrived on the scene to bolster these efforts.
As of Monday, U.S. Marines were reported assisting in the ongoing operations, with the U.S. Southern Command noting they were working “around the clock.” However, as rescue operations progressed, the likelihood of finding survivors diminished with the focus gradually shifting towards the recovery of bodies.
Many residents expressed frustration regarding what they perceived as an inadequate government response, with emergency services, including soldiers, firefighters, and police, fighting to meet the demands posed by the disaster’s scale. There is a growing sentiment among those affected that vital time has been lost, decreasing the chances of locating their missing loved ones.
Despite Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s assertions that over 14,000 military personnel and police officers were sent to aid in rescue and security efforts, locals in the hardest-hit areas reported little to no visible support from these forces.
As the search efforts continue, the reality sets in—the magnitude of the disaster faces challenges that demand urgent and concerted action.
