Emergency teams have so far managed to locate 33 people with vital signs trapped in the rubble, after being buried by the double earthquake registered last Thursday in the central coastal area of Venezuela, a seismic event that has left 1,430 dead according to the most recent official toll.
These survivors have been located "thanks to the deployments carried out by national security agencies in perfect union with international commissions that have arrived in the country," highlighted the acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, this Sunday during a public event at the collection center set up at the José María Vargas Sports Complex in La Guaira.
Rodríguez was able to see firsthand the organization of humanitarian aid and the distribution of food and belongings for those affected by the earthquake, and reiterated that there is still room to find more people alive in this "crucial" period. "We are in the critical hours to save lives and we, who are not involved in the work like you, are praying so that we can find people alive," she pointed out.
The leader specifically highlighted the work of Venezuelan rescuers, who continue to operate without interruption "from the first minute" of the emergency. At the same time, she acknowledged the "effort" of the international teams deployed to the country and the canine units that collaborate in the grid search and tracking tasks.
As she explained, the arrival of specialists from other countries has revived the spirits of the affected communities: "To the places where you arrived, hope arrived," she emphasized.
Rodríguez reiterated that the Government will keep the tracking operations active with the aim of announcing new rescues in the coming hours.
For Rodríguez, "no one is alone" in La Guaira. "Our People are here, our State is here, our Social Protection System and international solidarity are here," pointed out the acting president.
"Our Armed Forces are participating in the classification of clothing, food, and medicines to be distributed to the different shelters, hospitals, and dining halls in an extraordinary and joint effort," she explained. "It is a joint effort so that our people, who have been victims of this terrible tragedy that has saddened Venezuelan families, do not lack anything," she stressed.
The head of the Executive has recalled that the official channels for receiving donations at the La Carlota collection center and at Almacenadora Caracas remain operational.
Furthermore, the president has held a meeting with her Government team to review the progress of the reconstruction projects for the damaged infrastructures. The meeting also served to outline the social protection measures aimed at families affected by the disaster.