Venezuela earthquake death toll rises above 1,400 as search for survivors continues

The increasingly desperate search for survivors i n Venezuela entered a third day Saturday as people dug through the rubble of collapsed homes and apartment buildings after the devastating one-two punch of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes, knowing time is running out.

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela — The increasingly desperate search for survivors in Venezuela entered a third day Saturday as people dug through the rubble of collapsed homes and apartment buildings after the devastating one-two punch of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes, knowing time is running out.

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A mix of international rescue teams, Venezuelans looking for loved ones and neighbors used shovels, heavy equipment, ropes and bare hands atop mounds of toppled concrete throughout La Guaira, one of Venezuela’s hardest-hit states. Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours as crucial for retrieving people alive, though that can be extended if they have access to food and water.

The toll of Wednesday’s quakes stood at at least 1,430 dead as of Saturday. Families reported at least 68,900 people missing as of Saturday. People reported seeing few state rescue teams in the hardest-hit areas despite authorities projecting an image of a robust government response.