Remnants of tragedy

VENEZUELA DEVASTATED

 Hope fades as searchers, rescuers battle rubble; survivors cling to life after strong twin tremors

The desperate search for survivors continued in Venezuela as rescuers battled through mountains of concrete and twisted metal left behind by twin powerful earthquakes that have killed at least 920 people and left thousands hurt and homeless.

The worst devastation was reported from the coastal state of La Guaira, north of Caracas, where entire apartment blocks crumbled within seconds after the back-to-back tremors on Wednesday.

Rescue Priority

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said rescue operations remained the government’s top priority despite fading hopes of finding more survivors. “Our priority is to rescue those who are still alive. We have faith and hope that we are going to rescue them,” Rodríguez said, while thanking emergency personnel and international rescue teams joining the effort.

Rescues and volunteers continued search in collapsed buildings, often relying on basic tools and bare hands as people complained of a crisis of heavy rescue equipment.

Newborn Rescued

In one emotional rescue, rescuers pulled a newborn baby alive from the rubble, prompting cheers from relief workers before the infant was reunited with family.

Many families returned briefly to damaged buildings to recover clothes, documents and essentials, while thousands spent the night in cars, airport terminals and shelters after losing their homes.

Survivors recount Horror of disaster

Survivors described scenes of panic as buildings collapsed within seconds. “It was brutal and very fast,” said Héctor Morán Cirkovic, who witnessed several high-rise buildings collapse in La Guaira. “There weren’t even five seconds to escape.”

Relatives continued searching hospitals and shelters for missing loved ones as volunteers circulated photographs and appeals on social media.

Old, weak Buildings but New Disaster

Older buildings, poor construction standards and soft soil made many Venezuelan neighbourhoods especially vulnerable to twin quakes, experts said. Preliminary satellite analysis by Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab found about one-third of nearly 30,000 structures in Catia La Mar were damaged. Engineers said ageing concrete buildings, many built before modern seismic codes, suffered catastrophic collapses.

Hope Amid Ruins

Engineers have warned that aftershocks remain possible as rescuers continue their search. Once the search and rescue end, officials are expected to probe why the destruction in La Guaira was so severe. For now, amid shattered neighbourhoods and mounting loss, hope rests on every sound beneath the rubble and every life that can still be saved.

Global Support

Messages of support poured in from around the world. King Charles III expressed condolences to the Venezuelan people, saying he and Queen Camilla were “deeply saddened” by the tragedy and admired the resilience shown by those affected.

Quake shakes area near Mt Fuji in Japan, 10 hurt

Over 10 people suffered injuries after a 5.6-magnitude quake hit Japan’s Yamanashi Prefec­ture near Mt Fuji on Fri­day. The quake measured lower 6 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, the strongest in the area since 1924. Offi­cials reported no tsunami threat or signs of increased volcanic activity at Mt Fuji.

—FPJ World Desk