The humanitarian crisis in Venezuela has deepened following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country earlier this week, leaving hundreds dead and tens of thousands missing.
Gatekeepers News reports that authorities said rescue teams are racing against time to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings and debris.
According to reports, the death toll initially climbed to about 920, while more than 50,000 people were reported missing in the aftermath of the disaster. The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, caused extensive destruction in coastal areas and parts of the capital, Caracas, flattening homes, damaging infrastructure and forcing thousands from their communities.
International search-and-rescue teams have joined local emergency workers in efforts to find survivors, with aid and relief supplies arriving from several countries. Rescue operations have been hampered by damaged roads, power outages and continuing aftershocks, raising concerns that the casualty figure could rise further.
Families across the country continue searching for missing relatives as emergency shelters accommodate displaced residents. The disaster has sparked a major humanitarian response, with authorities focusing on rescue efforts, medical assistance and the restoration of essential services in affected regions.
The earthquakes rank among the deadliest natural disasters to hit Venezuela in recent history, with officials warning that the full scale of the devastation may not be known for several days.
