Dual earthquakes have caused widespread destruction in Venezuela, leaving survivors sleeping rough and criticizing the government's response. International rescue teams continue to arrive, but hopes of finding survivors are diminishing.
The earthquakes have exacerbated Venezuela's existing economic and political instability, creating a severe humanitarian crisis and testing the capacity of the interim government and international aid efforts.
Dual earthquakes have left Venezuela facing widespread destruction, particularly in Caracas and the coastal town of La Guaira. Survivors are sleeping rough, with many buildings deemed unsafe, and hopes of finding missing loved ones are fading.
Residents have voiced frustration with the government's response, with some stating that they rely on each other for help rather than the authorities. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez faced anger from residents during a tour of an affected area.
Search teams and foreign aid continued to arrive from Mexico, the U.S., Brazil, El Salvador, France and elsewhere. Mexican rescue teams climbed over collapsed buildings, searching for signs of life. For many, the images of international aid teams offered a glimmer of hope.
Rescue teams carefully handed down an 18-day-old swaddled in pink blankets from a building after 12 hours of searching. One 69-year-old woman, saved by Salvadoran teams, asked for a Coca-Cola upon being pulled out of the rubble.
Simón Bolívar International Airport, which serves Caracas, was badly damaged, though one runway was operational as U.S. teams worked to repair it. A U.S. Navy transport ship was docked off the coast, ready to receive airlifted survivors in need of medical attention. It is a "race against the clock" to find people injured in the quakes.