Rescuers in the coastal town of La Guaira are desperately listening for signs of life beneath the debris of a collapsed 12-storey building, one of the structures worst affected by the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela last Wednesday, killing at least 1,700 people. The silence is broken only by the occasional command for quiet as workers pause their diggers and vehicles halt, straining to hear any sound from survivors trapped under the concrete.
Families Wait in Anguish
Miguel Oscar Nunez, whose 34-year-old son Angel lived in the building, waits with other families. "My son, like hundreds of others, is trapped under the rubble. But we need more support from authorities urgently to dig them out. It's possible that the earthquake has not killed him, but can you imagine if he is killed because of the negligence of the authorities?" he said, his face showing anger.
Kevin Montilla, a commissioner, was at work when the earthquake struck, but his wife Luzmary and 16-year-old daughter Jhoerliyzmar were at home. "The rescue operation started very late and it's been slow. Initially it was only people who live in the community who came in to help. The police just came to check, but they didn't help. The government's response has been frustrating and impotent," the 34-year-old said.
Rescue Efforts and Criticism
When our team visited the site, rescue teams from Venezuela and Colombia were conducting operations. Two diggers and a crane lifting concrete slabs were present. However, families waiting by the roadside said precious days had been wasted before this effort started. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez has called the earthquakes the "most brutal natural catastrophe" in Venezuela's history.
Emotional Toll on Survivors
"I have not lost hope but I feel devastated. Nature's law is that a father should die before his son. Imagine if your son dies suddenly," Miguel said, reflecting the grief of many who have lost loved ones. The search continues, but time is running out for those still trapped beneath the rubble.
