Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, prompting Andreina Valerio to rush home in search of her nearly two-year-old son, Santiago, who was with her partner, Ramsés Mendoza, at her in-laws' home in La Guaira. Upon arrival, she found their apartment building in ruins, with her family trapped inside.
Andreina's brother-in-law, Samuel Mendoza, was sifting through the debris when she arrived. He reported hearing cries for help from inside the rubble, including a baby’s voice. "I still have faith my son is alive," Andreina stated, expressing her hope despite the dire circumstances.
Rescue teams from El Salvador and Spain arrived at the scene but were unable to access the site due to the extensive damage. As families dug through the rubble with their bare hands, they expressed both desperation and hope for survivors.
The earthquakes have devastated hundreds of buildings, with official figures indicating that over 1,400 structures have been affected in the region.
Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela's National Assembly, described the earthquakes as the most disastrous event the country has faced in 123 years. The official death toll has reached 1,430, with more than 3,238 individuals reported injured and tens of thousands still unaccounted for.
In response to the crisis, Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced the deployment of 14,000 police and military personnel to the affected areas. As rescue efforts continued, volunteers provided medicine and clothing to those in need, while families camped in the streets, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
At a hospital in Caracas, over 600 injured individuals have been treated, many suffering from fractures and trauma. Electricity in La Guaira has been restored to 60%, but the region remains heavily impacted, with authorities warning against travel to the area due to the ongoing rescue operations and the extent of the devastation.
