International

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Caracas, June 29: The least four days have passed since the devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, yet rescue teams continue their desperate search for survivors beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings. Authorities have confirmed that the death toll has climbed to 1,450, while emergency personnel are racing against time to locate anyone who may still be trapped under the debris.

Providing an update on the rescue operations, Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez said that at least 33 people had been rescued alive over the weekend despite the extremely challenging conditions. The successful rescues have offered a ray of hope to families anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones, even as the chances of finding more survivors continue to diminish with each passing hour.

Sunday, rescue workers pulled two 11-year-old boys alive from the ruins of two separate collapsed apartment buildings. Emergency teams detected signs of life beneath the debris before launching carefully coordinated rescue operations that eventually brought the children to safety. The dramatic rescues have been hailed as moments of hope amid one of the country's worst natural disasters in recent history.

In an official statement, the Venezuelan government confirmed that the number of people killed in the powerful earthquakes has now reached 1,450. Hundreds more remain injured, while thousands have been displaced after losing their homes in the disaster. Relief agencies and government authorities continue to provide emergency assistance, temporary shelters, food supplies and medical care to those affected.

The twin earthquakes, which struck on Wednesday with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, caused widespread destruction across several parts of the country. According to official estimates, at least 800 multi-storey buildings collapsed during the powerful tremors, leaving entire neighbourhoods buried under massive piles of concrete and twisted steel. Rescue personnel, supported by heavy machinery and specially trained search teams, are continuing operations at multiple locations in the hope of finding additional survivors.

The crucial 72-hour window for rescue operations, generally considered the most important period for locating survivors after a major earthquake, has now passed. Nevertheless, emergency responders have refused to abandon their efforts, continuing to search damaged buildings where there remains even the slightest possibility of finding people alive.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez stated that the twin earthquakes severely damaged a total of 774 buildings across the affected regions. Among them, 189 structures collapsed completely, while hundreds of others suffered extensive structural damage, making them unsafe for habitation. Engineers and disaster management officials are now conducting detailed assessments to determine the stability of affected buildings and the scale of reconstruction required.

Venezuela grapples with the enormous human and economic cost of the disaster, rescue operations remain the government's top priority. Authorities have appealed for continued public cooperation and international humanitarian support as emergency teams work tirelessly to recover victims, assist survivors and bring relief to thousands of families devastated by the catastrophic earthquakes.