Nearly 50,000 people remain unaccounted for following Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes, as rescue teams race against time to locate survivors beneath the rubble.
An online registry promoted by the country’s political opposition listed just under 50,000 people as missing on Sunday, down from approximately 55,000 a day earlier. The government, however, has reported that hundreds of people are missing or trapped.
The death toll from Wednesday’s earthquakes has risen to more than 1,400, with La Guaira remaining the hardest-hit state.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said 33 people, including several children, were rescued over the weekend, bringing renewed hope despite the shrinking chances of finding more survivors.
More than 1,600 international rescue workers have joined local emergency teams as recovery efforts continue. Before their arrival, residents and volunteers spent days searching through collapsed buildings with limited equipment while hundreds of aftershocks complicated rescue operations.
Authorities have also restricted access to the main road into La Guaira, saying only accredited personnel may use the route to prevent congestion and allow emergency vehicles to move more efficiently.
Search and recovery operations remain underway as thousands of families await news of missing loved ones.