Tensions flared in Venezuela's state of La Guaira as desperation grew among families searching for earthquake survivors and the death toll rose to 1,430. At least 68,900 people are reported missing, with rescue teams and civilians using makeshift tools to search through rubble. International aid teams have arrived, offering a glimmer of hope to anguished families.
Frustration mounted over the government's response, with many Venezuelans viewing it as inadequate. Soldiers, firefighters, police, and military cadets were underprepared to respond to the scale of the tragedy, and aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours crucial for retrieving people alive.
As 72 hours passed since the earthquakes struck, many felt every minute ticking away as they ran out of time to rescue people alive. Search teams and foreign aid continued to arrive from Mexico, the U.S., Brazil, El Salvador, France, and elsewhere.
A glimmer of hope emerged as international aid teams climbed through the rubble alongside Venezuelans, offering small moments of humanity amidst grief and terror. Rescue teams carefully handed down a 18-day-old baby boy and his mother, and a 69-year-old woman was saved by Salvadoran teams, asking for a Coca-Cola upon being pulled out of the rubble.
